Dr. Mary Ellen Blackburn
Associate Professor

Current Activities:
Dr. Blackburn serves as Extension Coordinator for the department. She holds an appointment with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service as Extension Faculty Development Specialist. Among the statewide programs she coordinates are the "Foundation Program for New County Extension Agents", "County Experience for New State Staff", “Management Development Institute” for newly appointed county Extension coordinators, and “Extension Academy for Professional Excellence”. She has designed and implemented several trainings, including “Creative Teaching Techniques", "Training for Impact", and “Mentoring Methods for the Experienced CEA”. She serves as co-coordinator of Extension Winter School. Dr. Blackburn has extensive experience as an instructor in community leadership development and has developed modules on topics including “Effective Communication”, “Group Dynamics”, and “Ethical Leadership”. She is holds recognition as a Qualified Administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Grants include funding for the Family Community Leadership program and the Southeastern Minority Trainer-of-Trainers program (with Fort Valley State University) from the Kellogg Foundation. As a member of the Joint Southern Region Extension Program Leadership Committee Dr. Blackburn is involved the Cooperative Extension Curriculum Project, responsible for development of web-based training modules for the southern United States.

Dr. Blackburn is recognized as a national leader in Extension staff development and has conducted staff development programs for Extension faculty throughout the U.S. She has given numerous presentations at national meetings. Dr. Blackburn has held national leadership roles in various professional development organizations, including the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and Epsilon Sigma Phi, the national Extension professional development organization. She serves as a member of the national ESP Mentoring Task Force and is a member of the Professional Development Committee.

Career Highlights:
• Assistant Professor of Furnishings and Interiors, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia (1978-80)
• Interior Design Specialist, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service (1980-1982)
• Home Furnishings Specialist, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service (1982-1990)
• Staff and Leadership Development Specialist, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service (1990-1998)
• Extension Faculty Development Specialist, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service (1998-Present)

Education:
PhD- The University of North Carolina-Greensboro, 1978 (Home Economics Education)
MEd- The University of Georgia, 1974 (Home Economics Education)
BS- East Tennessee State University, 1972 (Home Economics Education)