Rhea Bentley
County Extension coordinator and Family and Consumer Sciences agent, Bentley also serves as the principal investigator for the Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
Where are you from?
I am from Griffin, Georgia.
What’s your role at Extension and what does an average day on the job look like?
I’m a county Extension coordinator and Family and Consumer Sciences agent for Chattahoochee and Muscogee counties and principal investigator for the Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
Every day in Extension is very different. Some days I am preparing for a program, delivering a program or meeting with stakeholders, and others I am doing administrative work and promoting the organization.
Why did you choose to be a part of UGA Extension?
I have wanted to be an Extension agent since an early age. I knew in eighth grade that I wanted to work in Family and Consumer Sciences. I loved my home economics classes. I had an awesome teacher and wanted to follow in her footsteps. She introduced me to Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
I had the opportunity to be a part of some Extension programs as I was growing up. My fondest memory was Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) summer camp at the local park in Griffin. Some of the ladies from my church were EFNEP program assistants, so they invited me to attend. They were always a lot of fun and engaging.
At these camps we learned a lot about the importance of eating healthy, went on field trips and did fun activities. I was able to make lifelong friends as a result. There were certain now-retired UGA Extension agents who had an impact on my life and I chose to follow in their footsteps.
As a young child, my Girl Scout leader was an Extension agent, and by the time I had joined Extension, she served as a county Extension coordinator in Cobb County.
What has been the best experience you've had so far as part of Extension?
There are several, so I’ll share a few.
One of my best experiences as an agent has been seeing the impact that we have on people, whether it’s nutrition-related, giving a parent tips to help them become a better parent, or helping a child with a Georgia 4-H District Project Achievement project and seeing them do well.
Another rewarding experience has been the opportunity to meet other Extension colleagues from across the United States and network through professional development organizations.
The most exciting has been my international travel.
I was able to visit Xalapa, Mexico, for three weeks with students from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. We were immersed in the culture and were able to share our expertise in nutrition. We visited local hospitals and clinics and shared our knowledge of nutrition and food safety. This experience was life-changing and taught me to never take the resources that I have for granted.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Trinidad and Tobago and share the awesome work that UGA Family and Consumer Sciences Extension has done with the Cooking for a Lifetime Cancer Prevention Cooking School at the International Federation of Home Economics meeting.
My career with Extension has been very rewarding and it’s one of the best decisions I could have made for a career choice.
How has your experience as part of the organization changed you?
Having been in Extension for almost 23 years, I have a greater appreciation for serving others.
I wouldn’t change anything about this experience, as it has afforded me many opportunities and growth.
“I was able to visit Xalapa, Mexico, for three weeks with students from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences,” said Bentley. “We were immersed in the culture and were able to share our expertise in nutrition. We visited local hospitals and clinics and shared our knowledge of nutrition and food safety. This experience was life-changing and taught me to never take the resources that I have for granted.”
“I was able to visit Xalapa, Mexico, for three weeks with students from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences,” said Bentley. “We were immersed in the culture and were able to share our expertise in nutrition. We visited local hospitals and clinics and shared our knowledge of nutrition and food safety. This experience was life-changing and taught me to never take the resources that I have for granted.”
What do you like to do outside of work — hobbies, interests, secret talents?
I enjoy cooking, traveling and fashion.
I enjoy helping other build their wardrobe to help them look and feel good about themselves!
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