Hello! I’m Kaitlynn Henninge, the Family and Consumer Sciences Educator for Ohio State University Extension, Wayne County.

I am stepping into this position with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and fitness and three years of experience working in extension with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed). SNAP-Ed is a free nutrition education program serving low-income individuals who are eligible for SNAP benefits.

I started my career with SNAP-Ed in 2022 in Tuscarawas County. I spent two years working in Tuscarawas County where I nearly tripled the number of participants reached by direct SNAP-Ed programming and increased the number of partner agencies SNAP-Ed worked with in the county. I have spent the last year with SNAP-Ed working on Policy, System, and Environmental Changes (PSEs). I was awarded four Ohio SNAP-Ed mini-grants across three counties to help implement PSE changes with SNAP-Ed eligible sites. One of the PSE mini grants was awarded to Kids and Giggles in Wooster, where playground stencils were purchased and used to paint foursquare and hopscotch boards on the playground.

Quick facts: Dover native, Clarion grad, Massillon residents

I am 25 years old, born and raised in Dover, Ohio. After graduating high school, I attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in nutrition and fitness. During my time at Clarion, I was a member of the Clarion University swim team where I competed competitively all four years.

After graduating from Clarion, I started my position with SNAP-Ed in Tuscarawas County. I moved back home with my parents for a short time before my fiancé, Jason, and I purchased our first home in Massillon. Life has been full of excitement, purchasing our first home and now we will be getting married at the end of this month. In our free time we love traveling and trying new restaurants.

Since starting with extension, I have had so many opportunities for professional development and training that have helped me become more confident and knowledgeable in my professional career. I am so excited stepping into this role as I continue to learn and grow to better serve the Wayne County community.

Family and Consumer Sciences covers a wide range of programming that provide the knowledge and skills to help create healthy communities, healthy finances, and healthy relationships.

Continuing programs and adding new ones

There are many areas of Family and Consumer Sciences that go hand in hand with my education and career experience. I am excited to continue to learn and expand my knowledge in the areas of Family and Consumer Sciences so I can offer a variety of programming to the community.

In Wayne County there are many Family and Consumer Science programs that are currently being offered such as Steps To Home Ownership, Dining With Diabetes, Stepping On, and Real Money Real World. I look forward to continuing those programs and getting to know the agencies and community. I am excited to offer new programming and work with the community to see what different program areas might be of interest or need.

I am so excited as I begin this new journey as the Family and Consumer Sciences Educator for Wayne County. I look forward to getting to know and work with the Wayne County community.

Kaitlyn Henninge is an Educator in Family & Consumer Sciences at Ohio State University Extension-Wayne County. She can be reached by calling 330-264-8722 or by email at Henninge.5@osu.edu
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.