2025 CFF FELLOWSHIP LECTURE

Gender, Relationships, and Health Behavior Change: Rethinking Family Dynamics in Disease Management

Libby Richards, Ph.D.

The CFF Fellowship Lecture Series is free and open to the public.
Space is limited, so registration is required.
Lunch will be provided to those registered.

At this year’s CFF Fellowship Lecture Series, Libby Richards, PhD, 2018 Ann Hancook Faculty Fellow, will explore the role family dynamics play in disease management.

Her research efforts focus on understanding and intervening on the individual and interpersonal influences on physical activity behavior, including examination of dyadic relationships in physical activity promotion and community-based interventions. Dr. Richards’ studies highlight the importance of social support for increasing physical activity.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Libby Richards is interim head and professor at Purdue University’s School of Nursing. Her research explores individual and interpersonal influences of physical activity, highlighting the importance of social support in health behavior change. She has conducted health promotion interventions that positively impact community health by improving physical activity across populations.

As a public health nurse, Dr. Richards widely disseminates health education about the importance of vaccinations, flu prevention, and physical activity promotion. She has reached audiences through media outlets sources such as CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, AARP, Readers’ Digest, the Washington Post, and The Chicago Tribune. Her online presence has wide public reach with articles regarding the importance of vaccination and physical activity promotion in The Conversation surpassing two million readers.

In addition, she currently serves in several leadership positions in the field of nursing and public health, including past chair of the Physical Activity Section of the American Public Health Association, current chair of the Ageing research interest group of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, and serving on the leadership team of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Research Leaders Network.