About Family and Consumer Sciences
Elaine K. Fries, Ph.D.
FCS Regional Program Director, South Region
10345 Agnes St.
Corpus Christi, Texas 78406
phone: (361) 265-9203
fax: (361) 969-5639
e-fries@tamu.edu
Elaine Fries serves as the FCS Regional Program Director for the South Region. She obtained her B.S. in Consumer and Family Sciences from Purdue University in 1978, her M.S. in Adult and Extension Education from Texas A&M University in 1990, and her Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University in 2001.
Dr. Fries joined Extension after serving in the Peace Corps in South America and as a Bilingual Resource Specialist in Indiana, her home state. She has been an educator and administrator with Extension since 1982, serving as an Expanded Nutrition Program (ENP) agent in Maverick/Dimmit, Cameron, and Bexar Counties; as an FCS agent in Cameron and Bexar Counties; and most recently as County Extension Director in Bexar County. Her role as project manager for the South Texas AmeriCorps Initiative for five years brings a strong knowledge of grants and contracts and multi-disciplinary programming. She is a recognized leader, serving on numerous state Extension committees including the State Evaluation Committee, the Volunteer Steering Committee, and the Diversity Catalyst Team.
Dr. Fries is the recipient of many awards including the Deputy Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Youth Programming in 1992, the NEAFCS Southern Region Team Award for Diversity in 1996, two Extension Superior Service Team Awards – for Diversity in 1994 and for Una Vida Mejor in 1996, and a USDA Honor Award for the South Texas Cholera Task Force in 1996.
