Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — Virginia Moxley, dean and professor emeritus of the College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University, received the 2014 Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences on June 28 at ceremonies in St. Louis, Missouri.

Moxley was recognized as a visionary servant leader who influenced and inspired thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni and colleagues through her respect for the history of the profession, her institutional and professional association leadership, and her life of service to others.

Moxley served as dean of the College of Human Ecology from 2006 to 2013. She was a professor in the School of Family Studies and Human Services and co-director of the Institute for Academic Alliances.

The honoree is a founder of the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, a multi-institutional group sponsoring undergraduate and graduate academic programs. She has served as national president of Omicron Nu Honor Society, which is now Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society; co-founded the Undergraduate Research Community for the Human Sciences; and helped establish a human sciences program at the National University of Asuncion in Paraguay.

In 2009, Moxley received the Public Service Award from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities' Board on Human Sciences.

Under Moxley's leadership, the College of Human Ecology built a $5-million expansion to Justin Hall, paid for with private funds; incorporated the kinesiology department into the college; created the Physical Activity and Nutrition Clinical Research Consortium at Lafene Health Center; secured a human ecology research building in the university's research park; expanded college offerings to both the Salina and Olathe campuses; saw annual research funding grow to more than $20 million; and increased enrollment to a record of more than 3,000 students.