Dr Barbara Woods,  special projects manager for Human Sciences Extension and Outreach and an adjunct assistant professor in human development and family studies, was among 12 women featured in the 2018 Women Impacting ISU calendar, then in its 12th year. The calendar is organized by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and funded by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. Her nomination included the following:

Woods is a valued leader in Iowa State University Extension and Outreach statewide and in extension nationally. With a career spanning more than 36 years, she is well-known for her work with inclusion, program evaluation, technology and financial management.

She received her doctorate in home economics from Iowa State in 1981 and is credited with bringing county extension offices into the computer age. In the early 1980s, she helped secure millions of dollars in grants to place ISU Extension and Outreach on the cutting edge of technology, bringing it from a dial-up system to a network.

Woods works tirelessly and selflessly to improve the lives of children, youth and families using her strong professional ties in extension and family and consumer sciences. She brings a wealth of experience and institutional memory in working with historically underserved populations. She’s mentored and helped people of color to navigate difficult waters and improve their lives, particularly with finances.

“Dr. Woods is an individual with outstanding accomplishments throughout her career and epitomizes Iowa State University’s mission of ‘science with practice,’” said Debra Sellers, associate dean of the College of Human Sciences and director of Human Sciences Extension and Outreach. “Her unique experiences and wisdom, gained through purposeful and impactful service to our system across the years, were and remain a significant advantage for our Human Sciences Extension and Outreach community.”

Woods received the Career Achievement in Outreach Award from the College of Human Sciences in 2017. She was also recognized with Distinguished Service awards from the Iowa affiliate of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in 2016, and from ISU Extension and Outreach in 2011.

“She is open, honest, and inclusive in her interactions with people,” said Laura Dunn Jolly, dean and Dean’s Chair of the College of Human Sciences. “She is a clear thinker and is often the team member that ‘cuts to the chase’ with an ‘aha’ insight to move the team forward in accomplishing a task. She makes a difference in all that she does and encourages others to make a difference as well.”

Barbara Woods was recently awarded the R.K. Bliss Extension Award, recognizing outstanding career achievement by an ISU Extension and Outreach staff member in developing an overall or continuing extension education program.

She serves on the Iowa State University Museums Advisory Committee.