Stevens-Tobe Named Department of Agriculture Extension Liaison to Credit Unions

WASHINGTON-The Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (Extension) has named Erica Stevens-Tobe the national liaison to the credit union movement to aid the expansion of the National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning Program. Stevens-Tobe will represent the Extension in joint projects with CUNA Youth Financial Education Director Philip Heckman. Stevens-Tobe is the associate program leader of Michigan State University Extension, where one of her key responsibilities is youth financial education. She also serves on the steering committee for the Michigan Jump$tart Coalition. Her new assignment is to: * Bring credit union staff and local Extension educators together to form plans for promoting the HSFPP in their communities; * Assist credit unions in contacting local school officials and teachers and presenting the HSFPP for consideration; *Assist credit union leagues in providing HSFPP training to credit union volunteers and classroom teachers; and * Look for other ways to join forces on behalf of the financial literacy of members and nonmembers of all ages. Stevens-Tobe replaces Jan Lukens, of the Mississippi State University Extension. Lukens established the national model for credit union-Extension partnerships with the Mississippi Credit Union System and the Gulf Coast Chapter.