School of Human Ecology
Student Organizations
Students within the School of Human Ecology have a number of engaging student organizations that they can participate in, providing students with opportunities and experience during the course of their studies.
Many of these organizations have a strong volunteer focus in addition to networking and development opportunities.
› Child and Family Sciences Organization
› Child Life Association
› Food, Nutrition and Dietetics Club
› Housing and Design Association
› Kappa Omicron Nu
› Merchandising Association
Child and Family Sciences Organization
The CFS student organization focuses on children and families and the education and development of professionals who will be working with children and families. The content provided in meetings is focused on both students in the Human Development and Family Science concentration.
Officers 2024-2025
- President: Kathryn Dye
- Vice President: Audrey Presley
- Secretary: Kinsley Spears
- Treasurer: Rachel Bergemen
- Social Media: Sydney Robinson
Faculty Advisors
- Dr. Elizabeth Ramsey, Lead Advisor
- Dr. Lee Ann Shipley
- Dr. Rufaro Chitiyo
Meetings
The CFS student organization meetings are typically the 3rd Tuesday of every month at dead hour in Room 114 in Oakley Hall. The main focus of the meetings is to learn about programs that support individuals and families in the Upper Cumberland and throughout Middle Tennessee. The CFS organization also provides opportunities to learn about possible internships for those students in the CDFR concentration.
Service
The CFS organization supports these agencies and programs by volunteering or giving. For example, the CFS organization has held a diaper drive for Cookeville Pregnancy Center, and made gift bags of developmentally appropriate art supplies for the Monterey Head Start Program.
Field Trips
Field trips are taken each year to see child and family advocacy in action. In the past, the CFS organization has visited Haley Farm which is part of the Children’s Defense Fund in Clinton, TN. The CFS organization has also visited Mercy Multiplied Ministries outside of Nashville, Thistle Farms in Nashville, and a Montessori child care program in Knoxville, TN.
Child Life Association
The Child Life Association’s mission is to provide child life networking opportunities for child life students and professionals; to educate others about the child life profession; to seek professional development and educational opportunities from Certified Child Life Specialists; and to focus on service activities that positively impact children and families in healthcare and other stressful life experiences.
Officers 2024-2025
- President – Addison Howard
- Vice President – Ali Hicks
- Secretary – Sarah Wright
- Treasurer – Canyon Longway
- Social Media Officer: Adia Byron
- Fundraising Officers: Alex Ulehof, Veronica Miguel, and Kaelyn Adams
Faculty Advisor
- Dr. Cara Sisk
Meetings
The Child Life Association meets on the third Thursday of each month from 11 am - 12 pm in Oakley Hall.
Food, Nutrition and Dietetics Club
The purpose of the FND Club is to promote an interest in and appreciation of the various food, nutrition, and dietetic professions; to provide an opportunity for a closer relationship between students and faculty in the School of Human Ecology; and to foster establishment of contacts with persons already engaged in related professional careers. Each year, club members are involved in outreach and service projects both on and off campus, including projects with the Student Tennessee Association of Nutrition and Dietetics organization.
Officers 2024-2025
- President: Morgan Walls
- Co-Vice Presidents: Jadyn Norman and Carson Fulford
- Treasurer: Sydney Ashby
- Secretary: Emily Daniel
- Social Medial Chair: Lillian Cicero
- Fundraiser Chair: Caroline Henderson
Faculty Advisors
- Dr. Melinda Anderson
- Mrs. Allison Coutinho
Meetings
The meeting times for the FND club are each 4th Tuesday of the month from 11 am –
12 pm in Oakley Hall, Room 114. The FND officer's meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday
of each month from 11 am – 12 pm in the Food Prep Lab located in Oakley Hall.
Housing and Design Association
The Housing and Design Association is a bridge linking members with professionals through activities such as field trips, seminars, and meetings. The members of this association work alongside Putnam County Habitat for Humanity. Membership is open.
Officers 2024-2025
- President: Alexys Fallon
- Vice President: Jonathan Bonamarte
- Treasurer: Emily Worrell
- Secretary: Aryan Dogra
- Social Media: Ethan Boles
Faculty Advisors
- Mr. Aeric Gunnels
Meetings
The Housing and Design Association meets the 2nd Thursday at 11 a.m.
Kappa Omicron Nu
Kappa Omicron Nu is the leading honor society for students in human sciences with chapters located in colleges and universities that have academically strong human science programs. The mission of Kappa Omicron Nu is to empower leaders who enhance the quality of living through excellence in scholarship, leadership, and research. The values of Kappa Omicron Nu are recognition, reward, advancement, and strong affiliation networks, which enriches the organization’s chapters work to prepare scholars and researchers to lead.
Chapter members are undergraduate and graduate student majors who meet the high standards of scholarship. Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria and be invited to join by the School of Human Ecology faculty.
Undergraduate Students Requirements
-
- Human Ecology Major
- Completed 45 hours minimum
- 12 hours must be completed in the School of Human Ecology
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.5
- Show leadership potential
Graduate Students Requirements
-
- Human Ecology Major
- Completed 12 hours of graduate courses within the School of Human Ecology
- Minimum GPA 3.5
Officers 2024-2025
- President: Kathryn Dye
- Vice President: Audrey Presley
- Secretary: Emily Worrell
- Treasurer: Lilian Cicero
Faculty Advisors
- Dr. Elizabeth Ramsey
- Dr. Cara Sisk
2024 Kappa Omicron Nu New Members
KON Officers: Dr. Elizabeth Ramsey, Faculty Advisor, Kayleigh Vaught – Secretary, Abbi Renner – Vice President, Sarah Dickenson – President, Kathryn Dye – Treasurer, Dr. Cara Sisk, Faculty Advisor
Fashion Merchandising Association (FMA)
The Fashion Merchandising Association’s goal is to cultivate students’ experiences of Merchandising and Design through traveling, networking, and events production. The association also provides leadership opportunities to members by participating in service projects and promotion activities related to the fashion and design field. FMA hopes to encourage diversity, leadership and creativity for members to grow as innovative students and professionals.
Officers 2024-2025
- President: Sarah Kate Miller
- Vice Presidents: Kennedy Agee and Eman Norris
- Secretary: Valerie Maynard
- Treasurer: Caleb Maxwell
- Public Relations – Ethan Boles and Teagan Warren
- Fashion Show Coordinators – Davis Hartman, Richard Ortega, and Ryan Hall
Faculty Advisor
- Dr. Hannah Upole
Meetings
The FMA typically meets every second Tuesday of the month from 11 am - 12 pm in Oakley Hall, Room 118. Due to University recesses, the following are the dates for Fall 2022 FMA meetings:
- August: Welcome Back Party
- September: Guest Speaker TBA, Fashion Show Planning
- October: Guest Speaker TBA, Pumpkin Painting
- November: Guest Speaker TBA, Friendsgiving
- End of the Semester Party: TBA
Service
The FMA works across campus, and within the local community, to provide resources to those in need. The FMA gathers clothing donations each year from the campus community to distribute to local shelters, in addition to partnering with the Office of Sustainability to provide donations to the new Wings Upcycled thrift store. Wings Upcycled in a 100% free thrift store, located in the University Services building, which offers trendy, sustainable clothing options for students, faculty, and staff. The FMA has made a pledge in 2022 to help educate our campus community about the waste associated with the clothing and textiles industry, in an effort to help combat the detrimental environmental effects fast fashion has on our planet.
Travel
The FMA offers fun, educational travel experiences for all members, in an effort to
illustrate the global nature of the design industry. Most recently, the FMA visited
Asheville, NC for a 5-day trip to explore the design industry, which featured meeting
with local designers, vintage boutiques, and showrooms, touring The Biltmore, and
learning about the impact of design in an artisan-driven community. The FMA is hoping
to be able to travel to New York City in Spring 2023, to meet with industry leaders
in one of the major fashion capitals of the world!