Skip to main content

Eloise S. Cofer Family Living Lecture Series

About Eloise Cofer

Eloise Cofer joined NC State’s Agricultural Extension Service (later called N.C. Cooperative Extension Service) in 1963 as assistant director for home economics. She was known for her work in leadership development for women and in desegregating the Cooperative Extension Service in the 1970s. Cofer retired on June 30, 1980, after 35 years of service to families, the last 17 of which were spent as Assistant Director for Home Economics programs with the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service.

In honoring Cofer upon her retirement following her distinguished career of service as a professional educator and administrator, the name of the Family Living Lecture Series was changed to the Eloise S. Cofer Family Living Lecture Series, then the Eloise S. Cofer Community Issues Forum, supported through an endowment.

Eloise S. Cofer left many legacies, one of which is this lecture series. A West Virginia native, Cofer graduated from Marshall University in 1937, earned a master’s degree from Columbia University, and a doctorate from the University of Chicago.

Eloise Cofer

Past Cofer Series Speakers

Carmen Yulín Cruz, 2024 Eloise S. Cofer Lecturer

Cheetie Kumar, 2020 Eloise S. Cofer Lecturer

Temple Grandin, 2018 Eloise S. Cofer Lecturer

Vivian Howard, 2016 Eloise S. Cofer Lecturer