Since 1979, the Bessie Moore Center for Economic Education has supported work that advances economic education for young people and teachers in the state of Arkansas.

The center now has a new home in the College of Education and Health Professions' Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and a new director in Sheri Deaton.

"I am excited that the College of Education and Health Professions is the new home of the Bessie Moore Center for Economic Education," said Dean Kate Mamiseishvili. "Its success is guaranteed with Dr. Sheri Deaton at its helm. She is a transformational leader who approaches her work with creativity, care and enthusiasm. Dr. Deaton is deeply invested in the mission of the center, and I look forward to seeing what she has in store for the future."

Deaton, a teaching assistant professor of career and technical education, brings two decades of teaching and leadership experience to the role. Before joining the university in 2016, she taught family and consumer sciences education in public schools for 13 years, gaining valuable experience in areas that align with the center's mission.

"Entrepreneurship, credit, debit; these are concepts that I've taught and seen have life-changing effects on students," Deaton said. "I've seen students take this information and make wise financial choices so they're not shackled with debt, and that is a really cool feeling to see them apply these real-life concepts and make real decisions that benefit not only them, but their families."

The center is named for educator and civic leader Bessie Moore, who pioneered economic education across Arkansas when she founded the Arkansas Council on Economic Education in 1962.

The Bessie Moore Center is one of six economic education centers in Arkansas, each responsible for serving a different region of the state. Many of its current initiatives are rooted in Moore's decades of expanding access to economic education in Arkansas.

Its work today focuses on three key objectives: developing engaging online economic education resources, distributing and facilitating those resources in K-12 schools and crafting experiential programs that stimulate entrepreneurial mindsets in students across the state.

"[Moore] wanted every single student in Arkansas to understand the freedom that economic education can offer you as an individual and the opportunities that are at your fingertips," Deaton said. "This was her life's work, and we want to honor her in all that we do."

One of Deaton's first initiatives as director was to "revamp" the center's website, which now features a wealth of easily accessible teaching resources and updated information about the center's history and leadership.

Some of Deaton's long-term goals are to devote time to building partnerships with schools across the state to improve how the center's resources are shared and disseminated. Deaton also plans to work with colleagues in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction to support pre-service teachers and faculty with high-quality economic resources.

"I'm excited about the possibilities, totally believe in the vision and just want to do my part to make sure that we have the best economic education resources for K-12 teachers and teacher candidates," Deaton said.

"It's a huge responsibility, but I'm very excited to embark on this journey."