Kathryn L. Sweedler

Kathryn L. Sweedler is a dedicated Consumer Economics Educator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she leads consumer economics programming across a four-county area in central Illinois, focusing on financial management for individuals and families. A graduate of the University of California at Davis with a degree in home economics, she furthered her education with a master's degree in family and consumer resources from the University of Arizona. Since 2011, Sweedler has been an Extension Educator, providing research-based information and innovative strategies to help people improve their financial behaviors. She is passionate about reaching diverse audiences through initiatives like the Financial Wellness program, which employs peer educators to teach financial literacy to college students, and her Plan Well, Retire Well Blog that engages young adults via social media. Additionally, she co-created the Coursera course "Personal Finance for Young Adults" and recently revised the money management curriculum "All My Money: Change for the Better." Recognized for her impactful contributions to financial education, Sweedler has received multiple awards, including the Internet Education Communications National Award from NEAFCS. Her commitment to enhancing financial security for individuals, particularly as they plan for later life, underscores her vital role in consumer education.