Flossie M. Byrd (August 8, 1927 – March 17, 2020) was a

home economist Home economics, also called domestic science or family and consumer sciences, is a subject concerning human development, personal and family finances, consumer issues, housing and interior design, nutrition and food preparation, as well as texti ...

, family and consumer services scientist, educator, and the first provost and vice president for academic affairs at the public

historically black university Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. Mo ...

(HBCU),

Prairie View A&M University Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU or PV) is a public historically black land-grant university in Prairie View, Texas. Founded in 1876, it is one of Texas's two land-grant universities and the second oldest public institution of higher learnin ...

(PVAMU) in

Prairie View, Texas Prairie View is a city in Waller County, Texas, United States, situated on the northwestern edge of the metropolitan area. The population was 8,184 at the 2020 census. Prairie View A&M University, the second oldest public university in Texas, i ...

. She taught in Florida public high schools and at

Florida A&M University Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), commonly known as Florida A&M, is a public historically black land-grant university in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1887, It is the third largest historically black university in the U ...

Tallahassee, Florida Tallahassee ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, Florida, Leon County. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In ...

before moving to PVAMU. She earned a PhD in Home Economics Education with minors in child development and educational psychology and measurement from

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

in 1963. Her research interests included concept formation, family membership disability, and family resource management.

Early life

Byrd was born in

Sarasota, Florida Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sout ...

and was the oldest of 17 children. She graduated valedictorian of Howard Academy High School in

Monticello, Florida Monticello ( ) is the only city in Jefferson County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,506 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County. The city is named after Monticello, the estate of the county's namesake, Thomas ...

in 1944 and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in home economics from

(FAMU), graduating magna cum laude in 1948. She earned her Master of Education degree in home economics education from

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...

in 1954, and her PhD in Home Economics Education with minors in child development and educational psychology and measurement from

in 1963. Her

PhD thesis A thesis ( : theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: ...

was titled, ''"An exploratory study of the early adolescents' understanding of certain concepts in child development."''

Career

Byrd started her career in 1948 teaching home economics in Florida public high schools and five years at FAMU. She then moved to

(PVAMU), where she served as the dean of the College of Home Economics for 23 years. In 1991 she was appointed vice president for academic affairs at PVAMU. Her appointment title was changed to provost and vice president for academic affairs in 1993. She was the first person at the university to be appointed provost. She retired in 1994 and returned to Florida, settling in Monticello, Florida, where she lived until her death in 2020. Upon her retirement, she established the Flossie M. Byrd Endowed Fellowship at PVAMU for students studying agriculture and human sciences. She also published two books after retiring: ''Education in Jefferson County in Historical Perspective'' and ''Echoes of a Quieter Time.''

Honors and awards

Byrd has won several awards and titles for her work. In 1990, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Home Economics Association (now the

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) is an American professional association that networks professionals in the area of family and consumer science. It was founded in 1908 as the American Home Economics Association by Ellen ...

). She also held the titles of president of the National Council of Administrators of Home Economics (1971–1972), president of the Association of Administrators of Home Economics (1981–83), and vice president for professional standards of the

American Home Economics Association American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) is an American professional association that networks professionals in the area of family and consumer science. It was founded in 1908 as the American Home Economics Association by Ellen ...

(1985–1987). She was also a distinguished visiting professor in home economics at

Oregon State University Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant, research university in Corvallis, Oregon. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate-degree programs along with a variety of graduate and doctoral degrees. It has the 10th largest engineering co ...

, received the Florida A&M University distinguished alumna award, and was inducted into the FAMU Gallery of Distinction for Agriculture and Home Economics graduates. She is also a Golden Life Member of

Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. () is a historically African American sorority. The organization was founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emphasis on programs that assist the African American community. Delta ...

sorority. After retirement, she served as historian, secretary and chair, and on the nominating committee for the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA); in 1998 she was named the FREA Volunteer of the Year.

Publications

* Cornell University. Dissertation. * * * *

References

External links

* WFSU Public Media. ''Ecology Blog''. April 13, 2016
"Cycling Monticello's Historic Canopy Roads"
Interview with Dr. Flossie Byrd {{DEFAULTSORT:Byrd, Flossie African-American women academics American women academics Prairie View A&M University people Home economists American academic administrators Women heads of universities and colleges Academics from Florida People from Sarasota, Florida Florida A&M University alumni Penn State College of Education alumni Cornell University alumni Florida A&M University faculty Educators from Florida American women educators 1927 births 2020 deaths 20th-century African-American academics 20th-century American academics 20th-century African-American women 21st-century African-American academics 21st-century American academics 21st-century African-American women