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Sarah Kirby, PhD

Professor; Interim Extension Director and Associate Dean

Housing Specialist

4101 Beryl Road, 240E

Bio

Dr. Kirby is an Assistant Director for NC State Extension, Professor, and FCS Program Leader in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences. She is the State Coordinator for the Healthy Homes Partnership which focuses on improving the health and safety of children and their caregivers in homes by reducing housing hazards that cause injury and disease. Dr. Kirby is actively involved in educational programs related to preparation, response and recovery after natural disasters. She is the program coordinator for MyPI North Carolina, a youth preparedness, leadership and educational outreach program. Dr. Kirby is a member of the AHS graduate faculty and currently teaches AEHS 540, Environmental Influences on the Family.

Programs and Initiatives

Primary Teaching Responsibilities

  • AEHS 540: Environmental Influences on the Family

Contributing Websites

Professional Honors/Offices/Recognitions

  • 2023 – Distinguished Service Award, Housing Education & Research Association
  • 2021 – Outstanding Graduate Instructor, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • 2019 – GoodHeart-Wilcox Secondary Education Teaching Award, Housing Education and Research Association
  • 2015 – Housing Impact Individual Award, Housing Education and Research Association
  • 2015 – Educational Technology Award, Georgia Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
  • 2015 – Green Building Award, Raleigh Environmental Award
  • 2014 – Housing Impact Team Award, Housing Education and Research Association
  • 2012 – Extension Housing Outreach Team Award, Housing Education and Research Association
  • 2010 – Outstanding Extension Service Award recipient, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • 2010 – Academy of Outstanding Faculty Engaged in Extension, NC State
  • 2010 – Alumni Outstanding Extension Service Award, NC State

Selected Publications

  • Carswell, A., Johnson, P., and Kirby, S.D. (under review). Disaster affected households and their subsequent preparedness measures. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • Kirby, S.D. (2021). Housing and Disasters, Special Edition of Housing and Society. 48(2). Print ISSN 0888-2746, Online ISSN 2376-0923, Volume 48, 2021.
  • Kirby, S.D. (2021). Introduction to the special issue on housing and disasters. Housing and Society. 48(2), 107-113. doi/full/10.1080/08882746.2020.1870299.
  • Anacker, K.B., Carswell, A.T., Kirby, S.D. & Tremblay, K.R. (2018). Introduction to Housing, Second Edition. ISBN-9780820349688|ISBN 9780820349695.
  • Kirby, S., & Hardison-Moody, A. (2018). Housing and Disasters. In K. B. Anacker, A. T. Carswell, S. D. Kirby, & K. R. Tremblay (Eds.), Introduction to Housing (2nd edition). Athens, Georgia: The University of Georgia Press.
  • Langham, L., Singh, A., Kirby, S., Parvanta, S., Ziemian, M., & Coleman, D. (2016). Increasing the Effectiveness of Residential Energy Efficiency Programs. In Innovations in Home Energy Use: A Sourcebook for Behavior Change (pp. 169–190). https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress.2015.bk.0015.1512.8
  • Kirby, Sarah & Guin, Autumn & Chilcote, Amy. (2015). Creating the next generation of residential energy stewards using the energy transformation curriculum. Housing and Society. 42. 1-9. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08882746.2015.1121687
  • Kirby, S.D., Guin, A.H. & Langham, L. (2015). Energy education incentives: Evaluating the impact of consumer energy kits. Journal of Extension. 53(1), https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol53/iss1/16/
  • Kirby, S.D., Guin, A.H., Langham, L., & Chilcote, A. (2014). Exploring the impact of the e-conservation residential energy audit program. Housing and Society. 41(1), 71-88. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08882746.2014.11430622 
  • Kirby, S. D., & Chilcote, A. G. (2014). Energy Transformation: Teaching Youth About Energy Efficiency While Meeting Science Essential Standards. The Journal of Extension. 52(1), Article 28. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol52/iss1/28 

View All Publications

Education

BS Housing Oklahoma State University

MS Housing, Design, and Consumer Studies Oklahoma State University

PhD Human Environmental Sciences with emphasis in Housing and Gerontology Oklahoma State University

Area(s) of Expertise

  • Residential Energy Management
  • Healthy Homes
  • Accessible Housing
  • Disaster Readiness, Response and Recovery

Groups