Center for Families

Each year, the Center for Families’ offers funding opportunities that encourage collaborative, multi-disciplinary work focused on families across the life course. With an emphasis on real-world impact, this program helps faculty and students generate knowledge that supports and strengthens families...

Review the slides: At the second CFF Fellowship Lecture, Libby Richards explored the role family dynamics play in disease management.

Review the slides: At the second CFF Fellowship Lecture, Libby Richards explored the role family dynamics play in disease management.

Melissa Franks, PhD, Director of the Center for Families, is pleased to announce Kameron Moding, PhD, Human Development and Family Science, as Associate Director of CFF. In this new role, Kameron will guide the strategic direction of the Annual Funding Program. Kameron brings a wealth of research expertise, a collaborative spirit, and a strong commitment to advancing multi-disciplinary research about families at Purdue, and through the work of CFF.

Melissa Franks, PhD, Director of the Center for Families, is pleased to announce Kameron Moding, PhD, Human Development and Family Science, as Associate Director of CFF. In this new role, Kameron will guide the strategic direction of the Annual Funding...

This event recognizes and shares findings from articles selected as finalists for the 2025 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research. In engaging TED-style talks, authors will share the major takeaways from their studies, and Dr. Reynolds will facilitate a Q&A to follow.

This September 12 event recognizes and shares findings from articles selected as finalists for the 2025 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research. In engaging TED-style talks, authors will share the major takeaways from their studies, and Dr....

Oliver Wendt, CFF Kontos Faculty Scholar, has been elected a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) — one of the highest honors awarded by the association. The distinction recognizes Oliver’s significant contributions to the field of communication sciences and disorders through research, teaching, and professional leadership.

Oliver Wendt, CFF Kontos Faculty Scholar, has been elected a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) — one of the highest honors awarded by the association. The distinction recognizes Oliver’s significant contributions to the field of communication sciences and disorders...

Leanne Nieforth – “We’re advocating for the option of having service dogs as part of a treatment modality for PTSD and overcoming sexual assault trauma,” Senter said. “I interact with the people. I’ve conducted interviews with the participants just asking them about their experiences, the process of getting their service dog, how their service dog assists them in their day-to-day life and the changes that have come from that, and the advantages and disadvantages of having a service dog in 2025.”

“We’re advocating for the option of having service dogs as part of a treatment modality for PTSD and overcoming sexual assault trauma,” Senter said. “I interact with the people. I’ve conducted interviews with the participants just asking them about their...

Annabelle Atkin – A common racial stressor for Multiracial people is racial identity invalidation: the experience of having one’s racial identity denied by others. This preregistered, exploratory study investigated Biracial people’s experiences of identity invalidation within a family setting.

A common racial stressor for Multiracial people is racial identity invalidation: the experience of having one’s racial identity denied by others. This preregistered, exploratory study investigated Biracial people’s experiences of identity invalidation within a family setting.

Ellen Ernst Kossek – “Women who pause their careers often underestimate the emotional adjustment their families will face when they return. Children, in particular, may interpret the change as a kind of loss—even if it ultimately strengthens the family in the long term.”

“Women who pause their careers often underestimate the emotional adjustment their families will face when they return. Children, in particular, may interpret the change as a kind of loss—even if it ultimately strengthens the family in the long term.”

Sooyeon Jeong – As social robots get more deeply integrated intoour everyday lives, they will be expected to engage in meaningful conversations and exhibit socio-emotionally intelligent listening behaviors when interacting with people. Active listening and backchanneling could be one way to enhance robots’ communicative capabilities and enhance their effectiveness in eliciting deeper self-disclosure, providing a sense of empathy,and forming positive rapport and relationships

As social robots get more deeply integrated into our everyday lives, they will be expected to engage in meaningful conversations and exhibit socio-emotionally intelligent listening behaviors when interacting with people. Active listening and backchanneling could be one way to enhance...

Jorge Banda – Can a customized computer-driven 12-month short message service (SMS) counseling platform increase weekly walking minutes among adults to levels comparable with those receiving telephone counseling from a trained human advisor?

Can a customized computer-driven 12-month short message service (SMS) counseling platform increase weekly walking minutes among adults to levels comparable with those receiving telephone counseling from a trained human advisor?