In Memoriam: Margaret Arcus
Margaret E. Arcus, Ph.D., CFLE, passed on June 27, 2023. She was an NCFR member for 55 years, Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) for 36 years, an NCFR Fellow and CFLE Emeritus.
Dr. Arcus made a remarkable contribution to the field of Family Life Education (FLE) during her long, productive career as an author, teacher, and scholar. She helped establish the Certified Family Life Educator credential program at NCFR, setting standards for the field. She was also chair of NCFR’s Education Section, chair of the Continuing Education Committee, chair of the membership committee, and vice chair of the International Section. In 2000, NCFR established the Margaret E. Arcus Outstanding Family Life Educator award in her honor to recognize significant contributions to FLE through research, theory, practice, or other professional activities.
Dr. Arcus earned her doctorate in home economics education from Iowa State University. She was a professor of home economics and family studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC) where she taught and conducted research for 31 years, being instrumental in establishing the family studies program. She was also director of the School of Family and Nutritional Sciences, and Fellow for the Association for Values Education and Research (AVER), an interdisciplinary group of researchers at UBC.
Dr. Arcus received several prestigious awards for her scholarship. She was recipient of the NCFR Ernest G. Osbourne Award in 1989 for her innovation in teaching and dedication to Family Science. She received the Killam Teaching Award at the University of British Columbia, 1995-96 and 1989-90, for her outstanding teaching and learning contributions. The 1992 Just Desserts Award at the University of British Columbia was bestowed upon Dr. Arcus for her outstanding passion and work in the spirit of service for students, which comes at the recommendation of UBC undergraduate and graduate student societies. She was the 1996 recipient of the Honour Award, the highest award bestowed by the Canadian Home Economics Association (CHEA) for her leadership and service to the profession and the association.
Dr. Arcus, one of the pioneers of and primary contributors to FLE wrote several important works on the subject. She is acclaimed for providing the first synthesis of FLE, articulating it in theory and in practice, contributing to program development, curriculum planning, marriage and family enrichment. She was a fruitful author of articles and also authored the two-volume Handbook of Family Life Education, a foundational text offering a critical perspective on FLE values, professionalism, and programming.
Dr. Arcus will be eulogized during the annual memorial service at the 2023 NCFR Annual Conference. The names of any NCFR members who have recently died are read aloud at this service. Members who have served as an NCFR board member, journal editor, or are conferred NCFR Fellow status are given a eulogy.
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