Crabtree, Beverly Deles-Dernier, 1937-

Beverly J. (Deles-Dernier) Crabtree was born in 1937 to Wayne and Frances Deles Dernier of Lincoln, Nebraska. She received her B.S. (1959) and M.S. (1962) in home economics education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She earned her Ph.D. (1965) in home economics education from Iowa State University.

She followed her husband to Michigan State University where she was hired as an Instructor and Assistant Professor (1964-1967) of home economics education. She then took a position as Coordinator (1967-1973) of Home Economics Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia. There, she was promoted to Associate Dean (1973-1975) for Extension in the College of Home Economics. She was then hired as Dean (1975-1987) of the College of Home Economics at Oklahoma State University. Finally, she returned to Iowa State University to become Dean (1987-1997) of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

During her tenure at Iowa State, Crabtree oversaw the construction of the Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition, fund raising for the Palmer Human Development and Family Studies Building, the creation of a Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, and involvement with the CUTE (Cooperative Urban Teacher Education) program. She also established the Helen LeBaron Endowed Chair and oversaw a large increase in research grants for the College.

Crabtree was named Woman of the Year (1991) by the Ames Chamber of Commerce's Women in Business Awards and selected as the VEISHEA Professor of the Year (1992). Crabtree served on various committees including as a member of the USDA Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences, vice-chair of the Story County United Way Campaign, board member of the Ames Rotary Club, and member of the board of the Green Hills Residence Association.

Beverly J. Deles-Dernier married R. Jewell Crabtree and they had two children. The Crabtrees reside in Ames.