KAREN VARCOE, Ph.D. is the Human Resources Program Leader for the University of California (UC) Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She has been with UC as a Cooperative Extension Consumer Economics/Management Specialist since 1981. Her educational programs have emphasized teaching limited-resource families and individuals throughout California to become financially self-sufficient. Most recently, she coordinated the development and implementation of the successful Gateway To A Better Life curriculum that is being used statewide and in several other states. She has received numerous awards for her work with limited resource families including the USDA Outstanding Achievement Award, and the American Council on Consumer Interest Outstanding Consumer Education Award. Currently she has grants to work with the U.S. Marine Corps and the U. S. Air Force. She is a member of numerous professional societies and served as President of the Association of Financial Counseling and Planning Educators (AFCPE) in 1996 through 1998. She received a Ph.D. in Family and Consumption Economics from the University of Illinois in 1975.