Dean of the College of Home Economics, now the College of Health, from 1984-2000, Kinsey Bass Green was a recognized expert on public policy, demographic trends, and economic factors affecting the home economics professional and not-for-profit organizations.
Kinsey majored in home economics education and earned her bachelor ‘s degree in 1960 from the Mary Washington College at the University of Virginia. She held master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Maryland, 1965 and 1969 respectively, where she focused on family studies.
She began her career teaching home economics and English in Prince William Public Schools in Nokesville, Va., from 1960-1964. She was an instructor, assistant professor and associate professor of home economics at the University of Maryland for 11 years, from 1964-1975. Kinsey also served as assistant dean of the College of Education and assistant head of the home economics department at the University of Maryland.
Active in the profession, Kinsey served as executive director of the American Home Economics Association (AHEA) from 1975-1984, director of the American Society of Association Executives, and on the board of directors for the Future Homemakers of America and the Center for the Handicapped Inc. She also served as president-elect and president for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, formerly the American Home Economics Association, in 1999-2001.
Kinsey wrote three books over her lifetime, including “Family life education: Focus on student involvement” in 1975; “The world of food: Teacher’s guide” in 1981;” and “No empty nest: Families of the handicapped” in 1982.
During her time at Oregon State, Kinsey was deeply involved in OSU Extension. Nellie Oehler, food safety coordinator in OSU Extension Family and Community Health, worked with Kinsey over the years. She says, “Kinsey was always so positive, attended many of our Extension meetings and functions and was a strong supporter of home economics. Her door was always open, and she loved to hear what we were doing out in the counties. Even though we were not on campus she knew what we were doing and made us feel part of the college.”
Kinsey was born June 8, 1938, in Powhatan, Va.
Watch a video, “Home economics: A survival skill,” which includes an interview with Kinsey at 7:32.