About the Center for Families
The Center for Families at Purdue University was established in 1994 to form an academic community with a multidisciplinary approach to the study of families. We foster innovative research and collaborations with goals of reducing risks and enhancing strengths of all families to provide nurturing environments for their members. We disseminate research about families to various stakeholders including extension educators, health and human service providers, and policymakers.
CFF provides a way for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends to bring about change focused on families, an issue about which they are deeply passionate, and a change that is even more lasting than bricks and mortar. These caring partners have both extended and focused the efforts and created possibilities for collaborations seldom imagined in the past.
Our Community
Staff
Melissa Franks, Director
A member of the Purdue University faculty since 2007, Melissa is a social psychologist. She received her doctoral degree from Kent State University. She has strong interests aging families, marriage and health, health behaviors and chronic illness management. Melissa stepped into the role of director in 2023. As the director of the Center for Families, she oversees all of the center’s work, including the funding program and work with faculty partners.
Jeremy Reynolds, Co-Chair, Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work and Family Research
Jeremy joined Purdue University faculty as Professor in 2016. After serving on the CFF Advisory Council for many years, he stepped into the role of co-chair of the Kanter Award in 2024. Jeremy received his doctoral degree from University North Carolina-Chapel Hill. His research examines two broad questions: What do workers want from their jobs? and To what extent do workers get what they want?.
Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Director Emerita
A member of the Purdue University faculty since 1989, Shelley holds an MBA and doctorate from Pennsylvania State University. She has strong interests in the links between work conditions and family life, and in the evaluation of community needs and program outcomes. Shelley served as the director of the Center for Families from 1996 to 2022, and serves as Co-Chair of the Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research and director of the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, initiative of the Center.
Kate Kester, Project Manager
At the Center for Families, Kate guides the ideas, initiatives, and activities of the center, solving problems before they become obstacles. Throughout her career, she has led the creation and management of strategies that help organizations attain their goals, using communication to improve outcomes and foster strong connections.
Advisory Council
- Joyce Beery Miles, Council Chair; Advocate, CFF; Joyce B. Miles & Associates
- Cheryl Altinkemer, Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement, Purdue for Life Foundation, retired
- Elizabeth Day, PhD, Research Assistant Professor with the HEDCO Institute for Evidence-Based Educational Practice, University of Oregon
- Travis Dorsch, PhD, Associate Professor, Founding Director of the Families in Sport Lab, Human Development and Family Studies, Kinesiology and Health & Science, Utah State University
- Peggy Dunlap, Advocate, CFF
- Jane Horner, Health and Human Science Extension Educator, Purdue Extension, Retired
- Sheila Klinker, Indiana House of Representatives
- Betty Levien Krejci, Advocate, CFF; Former CFF Staff; Retired Fundraising Professional
- MiKaila Leonard, Graduate Student, Human Development and Family Science/Gerontology, Purdue University
- Mike MacDermid Wadsworth, Advocate, CFF; Retired IT Professional
- Bob Miles, Advocate, CFF; Bob Miles & Associates
- Kelsie Muller, Extension Specialist, Human Development, Extension – Health and Human Sciences
- Jeremy Reynolds, PhD, Co-Chair, Kanter Award; Professor, Sociology, Purdue University
- Oliver Wendt, PhD, Associate Professor and Chair, Cognitive and Emotional Disabilities, College of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam; Director of the Potsdam AAC Research Lab, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany
Ex Officio Advisory Council Members
- Lisa Graves, Interim HHS Program Leader & Assistant Director, Purdue Extension, Extension – Health and Human Sciences
- Christy Harrison, Director of Development, College of Health and Human Sciences
- Valerie Knopik, PhD, Head of Department of Human Development and Family Science
- Aaron Kosdrosky, Chief Development Officer, College of Health and Human Sciences
- Aaron Bowman, PhD, Interim Dean of College of Health and Human Sciences
It started by answering a question.
In 1994, Purdue alumna Lorene Burkhart and a group of advocates worked to bring about change at Purdue – a multidisciplinary approach to identify and promote family strengths to address challenges families face. They created the Center to reach across the University and beyond, to build a community who share a common purpose and focus on families.
Their actions ensured the Center’s longevity for future generations. We are able to move quickly to support projects and initiatives that may not be possible otherwise.
Today, the Center continues to work to improve the quality of life for families in all their diverse forms. We seek opportunities. We foster collaboration. We recognize high-quality family research to inform and empower decision makers.