In recent years, the idea of adoption has been seen regularly in the public eye as celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Madonna and Sandra Bullock are adopting internationally to grow their clans. However, there's a lot more to be said about adoption, and Jennifer Crissman Ishler, a senior instructor in human development and family studies (HDFS) at Penn State, has made it her mission to give students a crash course on the ins and outs of this complex process. (more)
Leann Birch, distinguished professor of human development and family studies and professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State, and Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State, have received awards from the American Society for Nutrition. (more)
Penn State has named Linda Caldwell, professor of recreation, park, and tourism management and of human development and family studies; and Peter Molenaar, professor of human development and family studies and of psychology; distinguished professors for their records of research, teaching and service. (more)
Lisa Gatzke-Kopp, an assistant professor of human development and family studies at Penn State, has been honored with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). (more)
When Juan Cook Sr.'s account executive job at a printing company went to Mexico, he turned to Penn State to prepare for a new career as a certified drug and alcohol counselor. When he graduates in December, he will start a new job in the rapidly growing health care field. Cook is among nearly 283,000 workers whose jobs have been impacted by trade and globalization, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Penn State is helping laid-off workers like Cook retrain through the federal Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance program. (more)
A team of researchers at Penn State has found that participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is associated with rapid weight gain in low-income girls. According to Daphne Hernandez, an assistant professor of human development and family studies and the study's lead author, the results suggest that low-income girls who participate in the NSLP may be at greater risk of becoming overweight or obese than low-income girls who do not participate in the program. (more)
Sustainable, comprehensive and problem-based training to prevent childhood obesity will now be possible thanks to a $4.5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (more)
Johnnie Geathers, a senior from Sharon Hill, Pa., majoring in human development and family studies at University Park, and Kylee Weaver, a senior from Beaver Falls, Pa., majoring in applied psychology at Penn State Beaver, are co-recipients of the 2011 Jackson Lethbridge Tolerance Award. The award recognizes a junior, senior or graduate student for outstanding efforts to enhance the understanding of diverse cultures and create a community where all individuals are accepted and valued equally. It is named for its benefactor, a Penn State alumnus. (more)
David Almeida, professor of human development in Penn State's College of Health and Human Development, will present the 2011 Pattishall Research Lecture. His lecture, "The Speedometer of Life: Daily Stress, Health, and Well-Being," will be given at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, in the Bennett Pierce Living Center, 110 Henderson Building on the University Park campus. The event, sponsored by the College of Health and Human Development, is free and open to the public. (more)
Six Penn State faculty members have received the 2011 George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching. They are Richard Brazier, associate professor of mathematics and geology at Penn State DuBois; Robert E. Burkholder, associate professor of English in the College of the Liberal Arts; Sherry E. Corneal, associate professor of human development and family studies in the College of Health and Human Development; Maria Franco de Gomez, instructor of Spanish at Penn State New Kensington; G. Dirk Mateer, senior lecturer in economics in the College of the Liberal Arts, and Kamini Singha, assistant professor of geosciences in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The award, named after Penn State's seventh president, honors excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. (more)
