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McCannon, Nellie (1917 - )
Nellie McCannon attended Iowa State College, where in 1939 she earned a BS in Home Economics with a major in household equipment. After working for several utility companies, she became a home agent in Milwaukee County from 1943 to 1952. During these years she was the first extension agent to use television as an educational tool. Her first program, a monthly half-hour show about foods, proved to be extremely popular with audiences. Later, jointly with the garden specialist, a weekly summer program was added. She decided to return to school in order to learn about the teaching potential of television. After earning her MS in Agricultural Journalism at UW in 1953, McCannon joined the department. In 1967 her appointment became joint between Agricultural Journalism and the School of Family Resources and Consumer Sciences. Part of her work involved teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in home economics journalism and advising students. As the home economics editor of the Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Programs, she and farm broadcaster Maurice White made five WHA-TV television programs every week. They also traveled the state to train extension staff for commercial television appearances. A third aspect of her work consisted of leading the Home Economics Press Service, for which she wrote home economics news releases for county home economists and women's page editors. For many of her twenty-seven years of service to the university, she coordinated the Home Economics Communications program area. Other service activities include founding an annual seminar for women's page editors in 1968 and establishing the American Home Economics Association's Communications Section and serving as its first chair. |
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