News Release Distributed 06/07/13
BATON ROUGE, La. – Gina Eubanks, vice chancellor for extension at the Southern University Agricultural Center, has been named program leader for food and nutrition at the LSU AgCenter. Her joint appointment was approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors on June 7.
“Our research and extension programs related to human nutrition and obesity prevention will be greatly strengthened with the addition of Dr. Eubanks to our team,” said Bill Richardson, LSU AgCenter chancellor. “Her joint appointment will enhance our working relationship with Southern University and provide more opportunities for collaboration between the two land-grant universities and efficient use of resources.”
Eubanks’ appointment will be 60 percent with the AgCenter and 40 percent with Southern. She will report directly to Richardson and provide programmatic supervision for AgCenter regional directors and academic department heads and directors.
“She will be one of four program leaders in our decentralized management structure,” Richardson said. The other leaders oversee programs in animal science, plant science and youth development.
One of Eubanks’ first assignments will be working with the Healthy Communities program, which was launched on June 1 in West Carroll Parish.
“This program takes a holistic approach to health education,” Eubanks said. “Good nutrition and physical fitness must work together. The whole community needs to be involved for real change to take place. The effort in this parish will serve as a model for the rest of the state.”
Eubanks has been with Southern University nearly 22 years, joining the faculty as coordinator of family and consumer sciences in 1991. She rose through the ranks and was named vice chancellor for extension in 2002.
Eubanks received a B.S. degree in clothing and textiles from Southern in 1977. She was awarded an M.S. in clothing and textiles merchandising in 1978 and a Ph.D. in home economics in 1987, both degrees from Oklahoma State University.
Linda Foster Benedict