Brittany Martin Alumni Profile

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) graduate and lifelong 4-H member, Brittany Martin, always knew she wanted to be a County Extension Agent. As a County Extension Agent, people contact Brittany when they want to know more about a topic in family and consumer sciences, want to build a partnership between organizations to serve the community, and anytime someone needs research-based information on a practical level.

"A large part of my job is responding directly to local needs and building relationships with the people I serve," Brittany said. "At the end of every program I do, I collect data to evaluate my programs and report results. It feels good to be able to say this is the impact I made here today."

When Brittany began her college career, she was enrolled in a different program at another university. Brittany wasn't passionate about the program and it wasn't helping her reach her career goals.

"My mother, also a Country Extension Agent, kept suggesting a move to Texas Tech University," Brittany said. "I stumbled on the Family and Consumer Sciences program and it was an instant click for me."

Brittany felt like it was almost too late to make the transfer, but thanks to a smooth transition in the College of Human Sciences, Brittany enrolled at Texas Tech University her junior year.

"I am so glad I did! It is never past the time to follow your passion and find the major
that inspires you."

Brittany knew that she wanted to teach family and consumer sciences, but she wasn't so sure the classroom was a good fit for her. Luckily for Brittany, family and consumer sciences is a broad and diverse field, and there are so many options career-wise for the degree. Brittany said that her classmates and the faculty in the Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FCSE) department supported her every step of the way in both learning about family and consumer sciences and learning about herself.

"The small class sizes enabled us to get a really personalized education. We had the freedom to explore our own individual talents, and they helped them come to life," Brittany said. "I was able to take a little bit from every major in the College of Human Sciences and combine it into a discipline I love."

Brittany graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences in 2014 and earned her Master of Education in Adult Education from Texas A&M University Kingsville in 2016. Brittany is now a County Extension Agent and loves every minute of it. Every day is new and exciting, and Brittany never has two days that are alike. 

"The most enjoyable parts of my job are being able to make my own schedule and get out of my office and into the community. It is so rewarding to see the research-based education I provide make an immediate impact on those who need it most."

Brittany said that sharing the family and consumer sciences side of the 4-H program with youth is very rewarding, but her real passion is working with adult audiences. One of Brittany's favorite programs to teach is child passenger safety education. Brittany said that most car seats are installed incorrectly, and a trained Child Passenger Safety Technician like her can help people learn to put them in correctly every time.

"Another favorite program of mine is food safety education. People are always surprised by what they don't know, and can take that knowledge home and apply it immediately."

Brittany thinks family and consumer sciences education is a great career field because it involves sharing information people can use to make their lives better. Brittany loves to help others see how FCS can make an impact on their lives like it has hers.

"I am constantly recommending my undergraduate major in FCSE to current and prospective students," Brittany said. "I never truly stopped being a Human Sciences Ambassador! There are so many people I meet that are looking for this program and don't realize it."