Jorge Atiles

co-author of "The Modern Land-Grant University" and co-author of "Remaking Home Economics"

November 4, 2015

Dr. Jorge H. Atiles is a professor of housing and the associate dean for extension and engagement in the College of Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University. He leads Family and Consumer Sciences Extension programs to enhance OSU's capacity to address the most critical issues affecting Oklahomans. He received his bachelor's degree in architecture from the Dominican Republic, his master's degree in urban and regional planning, and his Ph.D. in housing from Virginia Tech. He started his career in Extension as a Housing Specialist in 1999 at the University of Georgia. His scholarship achievements include publications and multimillion dollar grants to support extension programs in affordable housing, indoor air quality, energy conservation, home safety and water quality protection. Atiles has worked in the private and public sectors at the county and state levels managing housing finance and development projects in the United States and the Dominican Republic. Atiles leads the Oklahoma State University Network on Community Engagement. He is a board member in the APLU Council on Engagement & Outreach and also the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. He serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Higher Education Outreach & Engagement, among others.

Dr. Atiles led the chapter on "Service, Cooperative Extension, and Community Engagement" (Part 1-Chapter 4) of "The Modern Land-Grant University." In an increasingly competitive higher education environment, America's public universities are seeking ways to differentiate themselves. This book suggests that a hopeful vision of what a university should be lies in a reexamination of the 'land-grant mission,' the common system of values originally set forth in the Morrill Land Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890, which established a new system of practically oriented higher learning across the United States. While hard to define, these values are often expressed by the one hundred or so institutions that currently define themselves as 'land grants' under the three pillars of research, teaching and engagement/extension.

Atiles led the chapter on "Extending Knowledge...Changing Lives" of "Remaking Home Economics." The book is an interdisciplinary effort of scholars from history, women's studies, and family and consumer sciences. Remaking Home Economics covers the field's history of opening career opportunities for women and responding to domestic and social issues. These new essays, relevant for a variety of fields – history, women's studies, STEM, and family and consumer sciences itself – take both current and historical perspectives on defining issues including home economics philosophy, social responsibility and public outreach; food and clothing; gender and race in career settings; and challenges to the field's identity and continuity.The widespread urge to reclaim domestic skills, along with a continual need for fresh ways to address obesity, elder abuse, household debt and other national problems affirms the field's vitality and relevance.

URL: https://library.okstate.edu/news/celebratingbooks/2016-honorees/jorge-atiles

Last Updated: 13 March 2023