1. Candidate's Name: Debb Pankow

2. Candidate's Current Address:

Work address is at the NDSU Extension Service in Fargo, ND.

Her home address is at Hankinson ND

3. Education (include dates and degrees earned):

Debb has received her Bachelor of Science and Master�s Degree at NDSU. She received her PhD from SDSU in December 2002.

4. Career (list, in order, employers, titles and dates):

Debb worked as the NW Area Extension Home Economist in the mid 1970's. She worked for other agencies in the Minot and Bismarck area before returning to the Fargo area. I am not sure of who they all were.

She has worked for the NDSU Extension Service as the Family Economics Specialist for several years. (total years of extension service employment is 20.5 years, as of April 1, 2006).

5. Organizations and Community Service:

Debb is currently a single parent involved in the lives of her adult and young children. She is active in organizations in her home community, as well as in the Fargo area.

6. Accomplishments and Contributions:

As the leader of Family Financial Economics team, Debb keeps team members, along with other Extension agents, informed about current consumer and financial issues through e-mails and monthly conference calls. She was the first FCS specialist that I am aware of to start consistent monthly conference calls as a means to update the field staff.

For several years, Debb has taken teams of agents to national conferences, workshops and meetings to acquire training, curriculums and resources that can be used in their local educational efforts. For those unable to attend these opportunities, Debb makes sure that they received the information so all are kept abreast of the changes and trends. Debb is also approachable by the field staff, they trust and respect her and the knowledge she provides.

Debb's affiliation and working relationships with organizations such as the ND Attorney General's Office, National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), AARP, North Dakota Banker's Association, have provided a wealth of information and resources that have been used in local extension programming. These programs include the Women's Financial Information Program, Money After Fifty, High School Financial Planning Program and Life Smarts Competition, Dollar Works, just to name a few.

Debb is also providing strong leadership in North Dakota for the current national extension initiative, "Financial Security in Later Life", by developing a comprehensive four year plan to implement it in North Dakota.

Debb has prepared several publications covering topics such as "Taking Charge of Family Finances", "Making Ends Meet in North Dakota", "Working---is it Worth It", "What to Look for in a Financial Professional", "Starting an Investment Club", "Decisions for Health in ND: Advance Directives and Informed Health Care Consent", North Dakota Saves, Critical Conversations about Long Term Care, and North Dakotans Saving for Retirement, .

Debb inspires others to keep working during times of personal difficulty. She has a knack for motivating others to be willing to talk about a subject that many of us find almost as uncomfortable to talk about as death, and that is Money. She "walks the talk when it comes to being financially aware.

Debb contributes 100 percent of her energy and resources. She is visionary and always looks to the future. One of her favorite phrases is "And next we should....". She is open to suggestions for future programming.

Thanks in large part to Debb, more North Dakota families and individuals are able to face the future with a secure financial base. Debb is very deserving of this recognition through the Epsilon Sigma Phi.