Dear Members,
I hope this summer provides you an opportunity to relax, reflect and enjoy family and friends. As FCS professionals, we understand that the family is the central unit of our society and much of what happens socially, politically, technologically and otherwise will impact the family. It is therefore our role to assess and address that impact through research, instruction, outreach and advocacy. Many of us had the opportunity to attend the AAFCS Annual Conference in Minneapolis from June 5-10. The conference was very informative and covered a number of topics from Artificial Intelligence (AI), a very hot topic, to diversity, equity and inclusion. An overarching theme related to every area and topic was the importance of advocacy, especially for our profession. As the year progresses, you will hear more about opportunities and resources related to advocacy for FCS. During the conference’s last General Session, the topic of Advancing FCS in CTE generated a lot of discussion and concern. The plan by Advance CTE to restructure the national career cluster framework puts our profession at risk and therefore has the potential, over time, to impact families and communities. I encourage our members to demonstrate commitment to elevating FCS and ensuring FCS is clearly reflected in the framework. Please take a moment to visit the AAFCS Advocacy website to access additional information regarding the restructuring plan and to learn how you can be involved.
As your new president, I look forward to working with the Board and our membership to advance the goals and strategies of the Association and ensuring all of our members feel connected. You can assist in this effort through your advocacy and engagement.
With appreciation for your support,
Valerie L. Giddings, PhD
NCAFCS President 2024-2025
Senior Vice Provost
North Carolina A&T State University