Dr. Cara Winston Simmons began working in the field of family and consumer sciences in 2014 when she became director of the Student Success and Advising Center (SSAC) at the University of Georgia (UGA) in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) until her recent appointment to director of the UGA Office for Student Success and Achievement in March 2023.
In the SSAC, Dr. Simmons provided leadership to prospective student recruitment, new student orientation, academic advising, internships, retention, career development, instruction, student involvement and leadership, experiential learning, and support services initiatives such as Bulldog Basics. In her current role, she leads various student success focused initiatives.
In FACS, she served as an adjunct faculty member, assistant to the dean for leadership development and diversity, and is a graduate faculty member in the UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education. She remains as courtesy faculty in UGA FACS.
She transformed the teaching and instruction of FACS 2000, Introduction to Family and Consumer Sciences, that introduces the discipline and Body of Knowledge to undergraduate students. The course transformation is featured in the 2022-2023 AAFCS webinar series.
An active member of the Georgia affiliate, Dr. Simmons has served as President, President-Elect, Student Unit Advisor, Counselor, a Nominating Committee, and Chair of the inaugural Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. In 2023, she received the Georgia affiliate Leader Award which recognizes Family and Consumer Sciences professionals who have made significant contributions to the field through their involvement in AAFCS.
Joined AAFCS: 2014
Favorite AAFCS Moment: The 2024 conference was a whirlwind of learning, laughter, and connection, but one moment stands out as a true favorite: serving on the Bridging the Gap panel. It wasn't just about sharing my own experience, but the opportunity to learn from my fellow panelists, especially those newer to the profession. Their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm were inspiring, and it solidified my belief in the bright future of our field.