Elaine Johannes

Elaine Johannes is an associate professor and extension specialist in youth development in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at Kansas State University. Johannes has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in adult and community counseling, and a doctorate in life span human development from the School of Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University.

In 2014, Elaine won the College of Human Ecology’s Dean Barbara Stowe Professional Development Award for her work in adolescent health, and in 2010 was awarded the Faculty Extension Excellence award for her community-based, health promotion work featuring youth/adult partnerships. Having been awarded a contract by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Johannes completes Kansas’ first adolescent health needs assessment for the state’s federal Title V grant. The results of that assessment led to two USDA/SAMHSA grants to index behavioral health needs. Johannes serves on the Kansas Maternal and Child Health Council for the Department of Health and Environment. She also serves on the national APLU’s Extension Committee on Planning Health Initiative.

As a member of the K-State Research and Extension faculty, Johannes focuses on youth development, adolescent health, and community engagement. In addition to teaching courses for Great Plains-IDEA, Elaine manages grant-funded projects that promote health through youth/adult partnerships, as well as building the capacity of rural communities to promote positive youth development. Her applied research promotes “youth voice”, social connection and resilience among families and adolescents in poverty.

Prior to joining K-State Research and Extension in 1991, Johannes provided community-based services to older adults and their families in 18 counties as the director of community services for the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging. In that capacity, she also established a rural housing authority and a housing rehabilitation function for the agency.