2021 SCAFCS Virtual Conference Presentation Links and PowerPoints:
Abi Olukeye is the founder/CEO of Smart Girls HQ, A STEM education solutions provider that creates engaging content and facilitates exciting experiences to enable young girls achieve STEM Career Literacy by age 12. Core offerings include parent education for STEM informal learning at RaisingSmartGirls.com and Dear Smart Girl kits, a project-based, career-focused STEM curriculum for girls.

Prior to starting her company, she was leading global digital transformations as a Product Leader for a diversified Fortune 500 manufacturing company. She has over fifteen years of professional and leadership experience spanning new product development, technology commercialization, process improvement and strategy.
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LaToya Johnson, Ph.D. Dr. LaToya Johnson is an Assistant Professor and currently serves as the Academic Program Coordinator for the Family and Consumer Sciences Business/Multidisciplinary program at South Carolina State University. She holds a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from South Carolina State University; an MEd in Divergent Learning from Columbia College; and a PhD in Family and Consumer Sciences Education with an emphasis in Nutritional Sciences from Texas Tech University. She has been a Family and Consumer Sciences Educator on the secondary and post-secondary levels for 17 years. She is the author of two chapters in the ebook entitled Teaching Family and Consumer Sciences in the 21st Century, which was published in 2018. The titles of her chapters are “History of a Profession: From Home Economics to Family and Consumer Sciences” and “Teaching Black/African American Students.” Her main research interests include analyzing effective professional development opportunities for educators and incorporating social networking and technological advancements for instructional effectiveness. 
Melissa Jacobs acquired her B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences from Marywood University in Scranton, PA. She is a 15-year teaching veteran who currently teaches FCS in South Eastern Pennsylvania, while acting as her district's Curriculum Coordinator. Melissa has always had a passion for utilizing technology in her classroom and tries to incorporate what she learns from various social media sites and other professionals into her daily lessons. She has taught a variety of Foods courses, Parenting, Interior Design, Fashion, and Life on Your Own. Family and Consumer Sciences teachers are known for being flexible and constantly adapting their methods and teaching techniques. They are known for always trying to incorporate new and interesting ideas to inspire their students! Melissa provided stellar guidance in her session. She hopes that what she shared will be of great help to any teacher struggling in the virtual setting or just trying to learn a new trick!

Michelle Meloon, M.Ed. is an Instructional Coach at Hillcrest Middle School, in the School District of Greenville County. She has been in education for 20 years and has taught almost every subject at the middle school level. Three years ago, she took on the role of instructional coach. She believes that building relationships with children is where the magic happens. Children work the hardest for the teachers that they know care about them.
2020 SCAFCS Conference Presentation Links and PowerPoints:​
Paige Selking is the Ending the Silence Project Director of NAMI. Her focus shifted to mental health in 2015 as the result of her husband and son living with combat-related PTSD. In addition to her work with NAMI, she teaches Family-to-Family and Provider education for NAMI Mid-Carolina. She is a member of multiple committees working on youth and veteran issues. She has a B.A. in Sociology.
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Connie Lanzi became the SC president of Junior Achievement in August 2010. She is responsible for leading and managing JA programs serving upstate counties. By working with schools, businesses, and volunteers, JA provides hands-on experiential lessons focusing on work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy for students K-12. The overall vision is to help drive the economy and thus help develop a workforce that is prepared, knowledgeable, entrepreneurial, and financially astute.
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Danielle Barkley & Emily McConnell serve as the SC Ambassadors for Count the Kicks, a project of Healthy Birth Day, Inc., a 5-1(c)(3) organization dedicated to the prevention of stillbirth and infant death. Both have lost daughters to stillbirth and were never educated on the importance of tracking fetal movement during the third trimester of pregnancy. They strongly believe that if they had been, their daughters would be here today.
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Sarah Evanson-Adkinson serves as the Instructional Coach at Ralph Chandler Middle School in Simpsonville. She is National Board Certified, a past top 10 finalist for district teacher of the year, and a Devoted middle grades educator of 20 years. 
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Matina Kazameas is a public health professional whose focus is on childhood obesity prevention. She has worked on the NJ Child Health Study for 2.5 years completing primary data collection in urban corner-stores located in food deserts. She completed her fieldwork on Evaluation of Go NAP SACC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment in Childcare Centers) in 23 West VA early childcare centers. She now works in Greenville's Live Well specifically with Early Childhood, Out of School Time, and Worksite Wellness Initiatives.
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Dr. Ethel Jones currently serves as the Director for the School of Human Ecology at Louisiana Tech University in Rushton, Louisiana. Upon earning her PhD in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, she provided SCSU with leadership as professor, advisor, collegiate committee member, and program administrator. . Dr. Jones has a significant record of core accomplishments and distinctions from having served as President of South Carolina Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, President of the 1890 Council of Administrators in Family and Consumer Sciences, President of the National Association of Teacher Education for Family and Consumer Sciences, Chair of the Council for Accreditation for AAFCS and President of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. She was honored at the 2017 AAFCS Conference in Dallas, Texas with the Distinguished Service Award (DSA).​ 


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2019 SCAFCS Conference Presentation Links and PowerPoints:​
Dr. Imelda Go, PhD has been serving the K-12 sector as a statistician and educational researcher since 1995. The bulk of her career has been with SC
(SC Department of Education, Richland One, Lexington One). She currently works remotely as a computer programmer for an assessment company headquartered in MN. She enjoys recreational photography, baking, drawing, and contemporary acrylic painting.
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​Dr. Deborah Hutcheon, DCN, RD, CSOWM, LD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Sciences at Rutgers University. She has over 10 years of experience teaching in both residential and distance-based undergraduate and graduate nutrition and dietetics programs, including those at Bob Jones University, Clemson University, Logan University, University of New England, and Rutgers University. Other professional experience includes working as a registered dietitian in ambulatory pediatric weight management for the Greenville Health System in South Carolina, school nutrition for Greenville County School District, and long-term care for Morrison Senior Dining in Michigan. Deborah earned a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition from Rutgers University and Master of Science in Nutrition from Eastern Michigan University. Deborah has published primary research and narrative review papers on topics related to non-surgical and surgical weight management and human metabolism and body composition in peer reviewed journals including Nutrition in Clinical Practice, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, and Journal of the American College of Surgeons and presented her research at state and national meetings including Obesity Week. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and serves as a peer program reviewer for the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
​Sam Wiley is Vice President of Programs for the Alzheimer's Association, South Carolina Chapter. With a background in case management and information & referrals, Mr. Wiley has over 13 years of experience working in the aging and disability field.  He currently oversees all programs and services provided by the Alzheimer's Association throughout the state of South Carolina, which include community education programs, caregiver support groups, care consultations, information &      referrals, and much more. 
Juanita Mendenhall is a AAFCS/AHEA 50 year member since 1967; recipient of the 2010 AAFCS Distinguished Service Award; AAFCS Legend, 2016; Indiana Affiliate President, 1979-80; South Carolina President, 2006-2007; SCAFCS President 2006-07, Board of Directors 1996 to present; International Federation for Home Economics, IFHE:  Member since 1978; Senior Advisory Committee 2004 to present; Delegate from Indiana or South Carolina to IFHE Councils every two years from 1982 to present; IFHE Executive Committee Representative from Americas, 1996-98, Vice-President, Region of the Americas, 1998-2002; IFHE-US Structure Committee, President of IFHE-US, 1999-2004.  Chair, Disaster  Assistance Partnerships, Council Committee worldwide; Certified Family Life Educator, NCFR; Spearheaded ICFR work getting the designation “Certified in Family Life Education” as a special teaching certification in Indiana on teachers license. Recognitions, Awards and Honors (selected):  Indiana Home Economics Association Teacher of the Year, 1975; AHEA  Merit Teacher of the Year, 1974; Leader Award from AHEA; 2009 SC Leader Award; Indiana Governor’s Award 1987; Professional Achievement Award from ICFR 1981; Exceptional Volunteer Award the city of Ft. Wayne, 1988 and the Allen County Red Cross, 1990;  Teacher of the Year, IN, PTA, 1989; Exemplary Service Award, AAFCS/ESAE,1996; AAFCS Wiley–Berger Award for Volunteer Service 2007.  AAFCS DSA Award, 2010; AAFCS Leader/Legacy Designation and Recognition, 2016. 
LaToya Johnson, M.Ed. currently serves as the Academic Program Coordinator for the Family and Consumer Sciences Business/Multidisciplinary program at South Carolina State University. She holds a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from South Carolina State University; an M.Ed in Divergent Learning from Columbia College; and is currently completing her Ph.D in Family and Consumer Sciences Education with an emphasis in Nutritional Sciences from Texas Tech University. She has been a Family and Consumer Sciences Educator on the secondary and post-secondary levels for 15 ½ years. She is the author of two chapters in the ebook entitled Teaching Family and Consumer Sciences in the 21st Century, which was published in 2018. The titles of her chapters are “History of a Profession: From Home Economics to Family and Consumer Sciences” and “Teaching Black/African American Students”. Her main research interests includes analyzing effective professional development opportunities for family and consumer sciences educators and incorporating social networking and technological advancements for instructional effectiveness in Family and Consumer Sciences courses.
Angela Compton, M.Ed., Lynn Kuykendall, M.Ed., Renee Manhoff, M.Ed. are education associates with the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning and Literacy. 
Michelle Nienhius, M.P.H. is the Manager of Prevention and Intervention Services at the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS). This position includes planning and implementing statewide programs in the field of substance abuse prevention and intervention by providing technical assistance and training for the 32 local county providers throughout the state. Ms. Nienhius provides oversight for several state and federal grants awarded to South Carolina such as SAMHSA/CSAP’s Preventing Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths and Partnership for Success grants. She is the state representative to the National Prevention Network and is currently serving as President of the network. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the College of Charleston and a Master in Public Health degree from the University of South Carolina. She has been with DAODAS for eighteen years.
Dr. Ethel Jones currently serves as the Director for the School of Human Ecology at Louisiana Tech University in Rushton, Louisiana. Upon earning her PhD in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, she provided SCSU with leadership as professor, advisor, collegiate committee member, and program administrator. . Dr. Jones has a significant record of core accomplishments and distinctions from having served as President of South Carolina Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, President of the 1890 Council of Administrators in Family and Consumer Sciences, President of the National Association of Teacher Education for Family and Consumer Sciences, Chair of the Council for Accreditation for AAFCS and President of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. She was honored at the 2017 AAFCS Conference in Dallas, Texas with the Distinguished Service Award (DSA).​ 

  • ​2018 SCAFCS Conference Presentation Links and PowerPoints:​

Dr. Ethel Jones
Melody S. Weatherford, CNWE has a background as follows. Her early years spent in Hong Kong, China where she gained her love of international foods. At eight years old, she moved to Georgia where she later graduated from Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Georgia.  She met her husband at college in Tennessee and moved to South Carolina after graduation.  She has two children - a girl and a boy and has been working at Wren High School since 1995.  Her education includes: Bachelors Degree in Home Economics Education from The University of Tennessee at Martin, 1994; Masters Degree in Education- Concentration in School Leadership from Furman University, 2001. She has been recognized as the: 2017 AAFCS National Teacher of the Year Merit Finalist; 2016 South Carolina Association of Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year; 2017 Presenter at the Upstate Technology Conference.
Juanita Mendenhall
Chef Ward Morgan  is a Certified Culinary Educator at the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College Charleston, SC. His educational roots include becoming a Certified Executive Chef and receiving a Bachelor of Science at Southern Illinois University. He his work history includes: Sports and Health Nutrition Associate's Degree Program Advisor; teaching at Culinary Institute of Charleston for 20 years; a former restaurant owner, Bailey Betts’ Café Goose Creek, SC; and Product Development- Kiawah Seabrook Seafood Company.
​Dr. Eleanor Glover Gladney is the Education Associate for Human Services and Family and Consumer Sciences in the South Carolina Department of Education Office of Career and Technology Education. She has been instrumental in restructuring the South Carolina FACS Programs. Dr. Glover Gladney earned a B.S. degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from Cappella University. She is a member of and actively involved in several professional organizations, coalitions, and communities. She served as president of AAFCS-SCAFCS in 2011-12.