Jackie Franks

WARSAW — Taking over the position recently vacated by Stephanie Faroh, Jackie Franks is the new Health and Human Sciences Educator at Kosciusko County Purdue Extension.

She received her undergraduate degree in health science and master’s in public health from Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. Franks is also a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist certified by the National Abstinence Education Association.

While new to Purdue Extension, Franks has experience working in health education through the Tennessee Department of Health where she served as a health educator for two years. There, Franks worked extensively on tobacco prevention and control, teen pregnancy prevention, chronic disease self-management, primary prevention, and general health promotion in the areas of physical activity and nutrition.

Franks also worked as an intern with University of Tennessee’s Extension program in Union City, Tenn., where her work with extension agents inspired her to pursue a career in extension.

Bringing along her education and experiences from Tennessee, Franks is ready to take on a full-time health and human sciences educator position. Included in her new position is teaching lessons in areas such as human development, family resource management, health, foods and nutrition. In the future she will teach many classes, such as Dining with Diabetes, food safety, Captain Cash, and Purdue’s newest signature program Be Heart Smart. All of the classes she leads are based on community needs.

In addition to programming, she works with Kosciusko County’s Extension Homemakers, builds relationships with local and regional stakeholders, and pursues professional development opportunities to be best equipped to meet the needs of the residents of Kosciusko County.

Franks can be reached at the Purdue Extension Office (574) 372-2340 or at [email protected].