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Dr. Rhea Bentley
Rhea Bentley

Family, Nutrition and Health Program Leader, 1890 Research and ExtensionJohn W. Matthews, Jr. 1890 Extension Center803-553-1373

Rhea Bentley

Dr. Rhea Bentley currently serves as a leader of Family and Consumer Sciences agents and staff of 1890 Extension in developing and executing programming in the area of Family, Nutrition, and Health for the communities and citizens of South Carolina. Her emphasis in the program is placed on nutrition and chronic disease education for limited-resource audiences.  While in this role, she also served as the 1890 Extension state coordinator of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed).

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education, 1992, Tuskegee University
  • Master of Education in Family Education, 1995, University of Minnesota
  • Doctorate of Educational Leadership and Management, 2019, Capella University

Background

Bentley has been employed with SC State since May 16, 2023.  She recently retired from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension where she was a county extension coordinator and principal investigator on the Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visitation (MIECHV) grant.  Prior to becoming county coordinator, she served as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Supervisor for 16 years. Bentley also served as an adjunct professor in Family and Consumer Sciences for Fort Valley State University.  Prior to working at UGA Extension for 23 years, she taught Family and Consumer Sciences for Edina Public Schools in Edina, Minnesota, for seven years. She has received the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Distinguished Service Award, Continued Excellence Award, Educational Curriculum Package Award, and Program Excellence through Research Award.

Hobbies & Interests

“I enjoy traveling.  I am a foodie, so I enjoy exploring new restaurants and cuisines. I also enjoy cooking.”