Virginia Farrer Cutler (December 17, 1905 – May 20, 1993) was an American academic. She was the head of the Home Economics Department at the University of Utah and dean of the College of Family Living at Brigham Young University (BYU). She also worked for the United States Point Four Program in Southeast Asia, established a home science degree at the University of Ghana, and served on the White House Consumer Committee under President Richard Nixon.
Cutler was born in Park City, Utah and was raised in Murray, Utah on a farm. After graduating from high school, she studied education at the University of Utah on a four-year scholarship and graduated in 1927. She married Ralph Garr Cutler in 1929, gave birth to two sons, and became a widow in 1931, just two years after her marriage. She taught school in Utah in order to support her family before moving to California to attend Stanford University. After graduating from Stanford with her master's degree in 1937, Cutler enrolled in Cornell University, receiving her doctorate in 1946. She then became the head of the Home Economics Department at the University of Utah, where she helped establish the Sterling Sill Home Living Center and advocated for higher education for women. She later served as dean of the College of Family Living at Brigham Young University from 1961 to 1972. In between her years working as a university administrator, Cutler traveled to Thailand and Indonesia through the United States Point Four Program (sponsored by the US Department of State) to work as an education advisor and economic consultant. She stayed in Southeast Asia for a total of seven years, establishing schools and training new teachers. Then, in 1966, Cutler traveled to Ghana to establish the Department of Home Science at the University of Ghana. Later in her life, she served as president of the Utah chapter of the American Association of University Women and as a member of the White House Consumer Committee from 1972 to 1975. She died on May 20, 1993, having received multiple honors and awards. The Virginia F. Cutler Lecture Series, held annually at Brigham Young University by the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences, is named after her.
Early years
Virginia Grace Farrer Cutler was born on December 17, 1905, in Park City, Utah to Robert and Mary Farrer. Her grandparents were immigrants from Denmark. Her father worked as an electrical engineer for American Smelting & Refining Co., and her mother held volunteer positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while working in the home caring for Virginia and her six siblings. The family ran a produce and livestock farm in the Salt Lake Valley. Cutler grew up in Murray, Utah and worked at the Murray Millinery Shop as a seamstress. She used the money she earned to take piano lessons from Frank W. Asper at the Gardo House. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cutler graduated from Murray High School in 1922, having been actively involved as president of the economics club and vice president of her senior class. As a high school student, Cutler entered a local apron design competition as a spur-of-the-moment decision and won. She was awarded a four-year scholarship—worth $100 at the time—to the University of Utah.