Penny A. Ralston

Penny Ralston joined the Foundation Board in 2003

She earned her bachelor's degree in home economics education and social sciences from Ball State in 1971. She continued on to the University of Illinois to earn her Master of Education ('75) and Ph.D. ('78) in home economics education. She has worked at both the University of Massachusetts and Iowa State University before becoming dean of the College of Human Sciences at Florida State University in 1992.  

Ralston is a member of the Gerontological Society of America as well as the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, where she served as past president and former board member.  

She was a member of Ball State's Above and Beyond Campaign committee, and received the university's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998 as well as the Outstanding Black Alumni Award in 1993. She currently serves as the Director of the Center on Better Health & Life at Florida State University which focuses on improving the health of underserved populations. Ralston resides in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband, Chester Davis.