Click here for the PDF version of the School of Human Ecology Profile.

School of Human Ecology Office
125 Human Ecology Building
LSU campus

Phone: 225-578-2281

Fax: 225-578-2697

Office Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday

Karen B. Overstreet, Ph.D.
Interim Director/Professor
E-mail

Website:
LSUAgCenter.com/departments/Human_Ecology

Academic Focus:
The School of Human Ecology includes three areas of specialization. Curricula are focused on preventing problems and addressing the needs of families and individuals in a complex and changing society.

Research Focus:
Through research the school enhances, develops and delivers expertise that anticipates and responds to society's changing needs.

Extension Focus:
The extension system identifies
and addresses current issues and concerns. Extension offices in each parish provide a direct link between research and implementation.

Academic/Research/Extension Highlights

• The nutrition faculty is immersed in research and outreach programs to combat our obesity epidemic in Louisiana, while at the same time boost child learning and quality of life. Efforts are aimed at: 1) functional foods with starch that decreases food intake or with fish oil during pregnancy to decrease infant and child fatness ; 2) increasing children’s preference for fruits and vegetables; 3) integrating nutrition and physical activities into core curricula in grades K-5; 4) determining the contribution of commonly consumed foods to the total caloric intake of youngsters; 5) community nutrition aimed at improving diets and using food resources wisely.
  
• The popular, evidence-based Smart Bodies obesity prevention program is a joint effort of the AgCenter and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation that integrates into core academics in elementary schools across the state innovative nutrition and physical activities with the Body Walk exhibit .
  
• Prenatal to age 3 are critical years for brain development. School programs link research with users by providing best practices information for parents and caregivers through specially funded programs for limited-resource families and for those involved in licensed care facilities.
  
• In response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the school faculty expanded its work on family and community resiliency to include consumer coping behaviors and child care recovery programs. Information learned was put to use during the recent oil spill disaster as the faculty continues to assist coastal residents as part of the AgCenter’s disaster recovery efforts.
  
• Natural and environmental disasters, job dislocation and economic downturns have brought job loss and tough times to many. Managing in Tough Times helps families prepare for job loss, develop financial management skills and coping strategies, and handle stress.
  
• School employees, law enforcement officers and child care providers have completed workplace financial literacy programs that empower families through programs addressing money management, credit, saving, investing, homebuyer education and fraud prevention.
  
• Extension faculty educates potential homebuyers in selecting an affordable home, improving management skills, negotiating mortgage and closing costs, and protecting and maintaining their homes.

Significance of Programs

• More than 47% of Louisiana children ages 2-19 and 63% of Louisiana adults are overweight or obese, which leads to increased health care costs. Every $1 spent on nutrition education saves $4-$8 in health care costs.
  
• More than 700 child care professionals met their employment training requirements, generating more than $3 million in gross receipts for Louisiana child care businesses each year.
  
• 4,000 parents with infants who are enrolled in the state job readiness program received parenting and financial skills training that helped them become better parents and money managers upon entering the workforce.
  
• More than 28% of the 800+ graduates of the homebuyer education program became homeowners within 6 months of program completion. Most obtained $5,000-$10,000 in down payment assistance and more than 90% changed their spending habits.

School of Human Ecology Facts
The school comprises 3 divisions:

• Human Nutrition & Foods
• Family, Child & Consumer Sciences
• Textiles, Apparel Design & Merchandising.

The school is home for more than

• 650 undergraduate & graduate students
• 36 faculty members

School facilities include:

• Nutrition & Health Assessment Lab
• Nutrition Research Lab
• Early Childhood Research Laboratory
• Textile Testing & Processing Lab
• Computer Aided Design (CAD) Lab
• Textile & Costume Museum

Future Plans

• Joint projects with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Louisiana Alligator Council, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Cotton, Inc. will increase the use of Louisiana products while promoting sustainability and health, all factors in economic development.
  
• Can increased fish consumption during pregnancy be one answer to Louisiana’s overweight and obesity statistics and the global obesity epidemic? Research is continuing on this questions. A longer-term benefit of DHA — an omega-3 fatty acid — for infants is likely in improved school performance at later ages. In fact, at least one study points to a higher IQ with supplementation of DHA during pregnancy. Additionally, two studies now provide evidence that increased DHA during pregnancy can decrease fatness in the infant. This latter finding is especially interesting at this time when obesity is increasing, and early nutrition is viewed as a critical time for intervention.
  
• High-quality child care is a significant contributor to economic development as a viable business, as support for potential employees and as part of the education process. The school is expanding its work with infants and toddlers on campus, and extension faculty will share that information with providers across the state. Students at technical and community colleges will be able to apply some of their extension courses toward their associate degree.
  
• Master Nutrition volunteers are learning the latest nutrition, fitness and health information to be able to provide leadership for programs across the state.
  
• School undergraduate students will have more opportunities for internships with extension programs throughout the state and participate in specialized research projects.