Jennifer Abel

Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences
(703) 228-6417
jabel@vt.edu

Education and Degrees

Accredited Financial Counselor certification, Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, 2007.

M.S. Agricultural and Extension Education, Penn State University, August 2000.

B.A. Russian and International Studies, Macalester College, May 1993.

Work Experience

Jennifer provides leadership to the personal financial management programs of Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. She trains and supervises a staff of volunteers who counsel individuals and lead groups in learning to manage their spending and credit. She also manages the other family and consumer education programs in nutrition, home-based business, energy conservation, and home environment.

Jennifer joined the Arlington County Extension program in August 2000. Before coming to Virginia she spent two years with Penn State University designing and facilitating workshops and conducting research to broaden understanding about community food issues. She also helped start and strengthen farmers' markets in three New York City neighborhoods while working for Cornell Cooperative Extension. Jennifer also spent five years working on international sustainable agriculture projects. She has long had an interest in improving the quality of life of urban residents through non-formal, participatory education programs. She has developed workshops and seminars for diverse audiences in the U.S., Russia, and West Africa on topics ranging from the benefits of buying locally produced goods to budgeting and record keeping basics.

Professional Associations

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Virginia Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Virginia Extension Association, Association of Financial Counseling and Planning Education.

Awards

2009 Outstanding Early Career Award. Awarded by the Alpha Gamma chapter of the Epsilon Sigma Phi honorary organization of cooperative extension.

2008 Programming Award for Excellence at the district level in Program Evaluation

2007 Programming Award for excellence at the state level in Program Evaluation

2006 Programming Award for excellence at the district level in Program Evaluation

Internet Education Technology, Third place national award. September 2005. National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences

Internet Education Technology, First place southern region award. September 2005

Outstanding Paper award, Evans Family Lecture Series, April 2002

Delta Gamma Golden Anchor Scholarship--received May 1999

Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society--inducted May 2000

Gamma Sigma Delta Agriculture Honor Society--inducted April 2001