Brenda J. Cude inducted into FACS Honor Hall of Recognition

The College of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) at the University of Georgia has named Dr. Brenda J. Cude, Professor Emerita of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics, as the newest inductee into the FACS Honor Hall of Recognition, the college’s highest alumni and faculty honor.

Dr. Cude was recognized on Feb. 20 during the annual FACS Alumni Awards, where alumni, colleagues, former students, friends and family gathered to honor her lasting impact on the fields of consumer economics, personal financial literacy and higher education.

Dr. Cude retired from UGA in 2020 after a distinguished career marked by leadership, scholarship and extensive service. She served as a Georgia Athletic Association Professor II of Family and Consumer Sciences, undergraduate coordinator for the Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics (FHCE) beginning in 2006, and director of the UGA Center for Economic Education. She earned her Ph.D. in Consumer Economics from Purdue University.

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Cude held multiple leadership roles, including:

• Head of the Department of FHCE (1998–2004)
• Interim Head of the Department of Human Development and Family Science (January–July 2019)
• Chair of the Consumer and Family Economics Extension Program Development Group at the University of Illinois (1992–1998)

A prolific scholar, Dr. Cude has authored more than 200 publications, many in collaboration with students and early‑career faculty. Her research focuses on consumer decision‑making and personal financial literacy. She has served on several editorial boards and is a former editor of the Journal of Consumer Affairs.

Dr. Cude has also had significant influence in outreach and consumer policy. Her roles have included:

• State Extension specialist in consumer economics (University of Illinois, 1986–1998)
• Statewide coordinator of the Georgia Peer Financial Counseling Program (2004–2010)
• Funded consumer representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (since 1994)
• Member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance (2014–2016)

Additionally, she has represented consumer interests through service with the American National Standards Institute–Conference for Food Protection Accreditation Committee, the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association, the Direct Selling Education Foundation Board and the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.

Over the course of her career, Dr. Cude has been recognized with numerous awards for teaching, research mentoring and service. She is a FACS 100 Centennial Honoree, a two‑time departmental Teacher of the Year, a UGA Senior Teaching Fellow and the 2017 Direct Selling Education Foundation Educator of the Year, among many other honors.

A tribute video celebrating Dr. Cude’s contributions is available here:
Brenda Cude Honor Hall Video