Linda Skogrand, Family Life Specialist
Dr. Linda Skogrand has done exemplary work in the past six years in her role as family life specialist (75% Extension role). She has excelled in publishing research findings through publications and presentations. She has developed and disseminated curricula, generated national and local funding, worked effectively in providing leadership to agents and specialists across disciplines, and has provided education throughout the state and nationally by using a variety of educational methods. Most of her work focuses on research and education to strengthen marriages in diverse communities including Latino, Navajo, and African American, and low-income populations.
In the past six years she has published in two international and 12 national journals and has published 19 fact sheets. In addition, she has co-authored eight international and 37 national presentations. These publications and presentations include topics such as surviving and transcending a traumatic childhood, strong marriages in the Latino and Navajo communities, working with diverse audiences, and marriage education. In addition, she co-authored book entitled Surviving and Transcending a Traumatic Childhood: The Dark Thread, and co-authored a leading marriage and family textbook. A Navajo couple activity book has also be reviewed and disseminated to over 1,500 Navajo people. As a result of her work in Utah she serves on a National Extension Relationship and Marriage Education Network (NERMEN) along with nine other family life specialists around country who are developing resources in the area of marriage education. Dr. Skogrand participated in a national E-Seminar highlighting the work of the network and developed a relationship and marriage education handbook.
Dr. Skogrand has secured $113,000 in internal grants, many of which are in partnership with county agents, and two five-year federal grants totaling $3.6 million where she is a co-investigator. These federal grants provide stepfamily education to low-income European American and Latino families. To date, 1,095 adults and 1,218 children have been served through these grants.
It has been a goal for Dr. Skogrand to work closely with county agents and support them in gaining tenure. She has been a co-author with agents on one international and two national publications, seven fact sheets, one curriculum, and four funded internal grants. In addition, she has presented numerous times locally and nationally with agents. She works closely with and supports the work of agents and other Extension staff. She is never too busy for colleagues and on numerous occasions has put her work on hold to help others. To say she goes the extra mile would be an understatement. She not only strives for excellence, she works tirelessly to achieve excellences and to cultivate excellence in those around her.