When Rick Griffiths was elected National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences national president in 2023, he made history. The Family and Consumer Sciences agent for New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service in San Juan County not only became the first president from New Mexico since Owaissa Crites-Heimann in 1968, but the first man to lead the association, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
“When I was elected to the board as western regional director in 2020, I became the first male to serve on the national board. Since that time three more male members have served on the board,” Griffiths said. “While the organization has had a number of male members that have served in committee leadership and advisory leadership roles, it does surprise me that in 86 years a male had not been elected to the national board, and that in 90 years a male had not been elected president.”
“Rick is a valued Family and Consumer Sciences agent in San Juan County, and his leadership at the national level has elevated all of our agents to provide service and leadership to their professional organizations and to our constituents,” said Jon Boren, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences associate dean and director of the Cooperative Extension Service.
“We are very proud of Rick’s work in San Juan County, in the College of ACES and New Mexico,” College of ACES Dean Rolando Flores Galarza said. “His visibility will benefit New Mexico. He is a role model for his colleagues in Extension.”
Bernalillo County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Dianne Christensen believes Griffiths’ experience contributed to his success as a leader.
“Rick is brilliant, and he has tremendous knowledge of NEAFCS and how to lead it well,” Christensen said. “He believes in the abilities of others. I certainly would not be western region director and on the national board if it were not for Rick’s encouragement, belief in me, and giving me leadership opportunities for the past eight years.
“Rick is quick to listen, objective and very fair. He thinks issues through from all perspectives and members value his opinions because they are always well formed,” she said.
As NEAFCS national president, Griffiths leads an organization with more than 2,900 members nationwide, 1,700 active members and 1,200 life members.
“My main goal for this year is to develop a new strategic plan for the organization that will provide a strong road map for the future by strengthening the organization and its members across the country to meet the needs of their local communities and amplify the reach of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension,” Griffiths said. “Over the course of the last few years, the organization has learned to make dynamic changes that previously were considered impossible and that presents unique opportunities for us to build upon that strength of change to develop programs that will better serve the membership and Extension.”
Serving as NEAFCS president is a three-year commitment, which requires service as president elect, president and past president, and each role includes substantial leadership responsibilities. Griffiths’ term as president ends in September, following the NEAFCS annual session in Tucson, Arizona. Presently, he is focused on the current responsibilities of the role before he transitions to the ongoing leadership responsibilities next year.
“With such a large organization a lot of critical work for the maintenance and support of the organization is conducted by the committees,” Griffiths said. “It is critical for the president to be aware of what is happening within those committees and making sure that they are operating effectively in support of the larger organization.”