Research on Educators in Family and Consumer Sciences Earns Recognition for Breaking Gender Stereotypes
The Family and Consumer Science Education (FCSE) program within the Interdisciplinary Human Science department at Texas Tech offers a one-of-a-kind guidance in the education field that leads to career and personal success. Rob Van Dyke graduated May of 2024 with a Ph.D. in FCSE.
Van Dyke has since been awarded the Outstanding Dissertation Award in Social Sciences. His dissertation, A Few Good Men: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Occupational Socialization of Male Family and Consumer Sciences Educators, delves into the underrepresentation of male educators in the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) field and highlights the critical role they play in breaking gender stereotypes.
His dissertation was ranked among the top 1% by his dissertation chair, Dr. Karen Alexander, who praised its quality and impact.
"This award showcases its potential to bring about systemic change in the family and consumer sciences teaching profession and the teaching profession in general," Alexander said. "It highlights the importance of male FCS educators in breaking gender stereotypes and serving as role models."
Van Dyke attributes much of his success to the education and guidance he received from Texas tech’s FCSE program, the only doctoral program of its kind in the nation. “I chose Texas Tech because it offered the only Family and Consumer Sciences Education doctoral program in the nation,” Van Dyke said. “It’s highly recommended by FCS professionals, and the education I received directly impacted both my professional and personal life.”
The faculty is well respected and guides students through the rigorous program.
“FCS is about equipping individuals and families with the skills and knowledge to manage their lives effectively and make informed decisions for the future” Van Dyke said.
FCSE includes areas like financial management, nutrition and dietetics, child development, culinary arts and hospitality, interior design and architecture, apparel design and merchandising, and family and human development.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about FCS is that it’s just about traditional home skills,” Van Dyke said, “But the field actually prepares individuals for diverse careers, from financial planners to hospitality management. It’s about helping people manage their lives effectively.”
After graduating, Van Dyke began his career as an assistant director for Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
In this role, he oversees educator training programs and leads the implementation of a new computer science graduation requirement. Van Dyke also spearheads a statewide diversity and inclusion initiative for CTE and co-leads the Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance to broaden student participation in computer science.
Van Dyke’s dissertation committee unanimously agreed on his nomination for the Outstanding Dissertation Award, recognizing his contribution to the field. As his career in education continues to grow, Van Dyke remains committed to promoting diversity and supporting male educators in FCS, furthering the impact of his work beyond the academic realm.