Moms Network for Faculty
The Moms Network for Faculty is dedicated to issues related to motherhood such as the transition to parenthood, navigating university policies for time off, resources for childcare, managing the pressures of life-work balance, and more. The goal and aim of this program is to build an informational network and supportive community for faculty who are mothers and/or expectant mothers.
In-person gatherings will be organized by the Butler Center and network leaders to facilitate/foster connection, conversation and sharing of experiences. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, share concerns, and share key resources (navigating university policies, finding family-friendly activities, etc.).
If you are interested in participating in the Moms Network for Faculty, please register here .
Meet the Program Chair & Co-Chair
Kameron Moding, Program Chair
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Human Development and Family Science
College of Health and Human Sciences
I am an associate professor in Human Development & Family Science and chair of the Moms Network for Faculty. I am a new mom myself (we welcomed our daughter in November 2023), so I am excited to share my recent experiences with other new moms and moms-to-be. Being a mom in academia is challenging, and I hope to be able to support other moms during their transition to becoming a parent, starting their positions at Purdue, and navigating the work/life balance. As chair of the network, I look forward to facilitating connections among members of the network and sharing resources that help make our lives as academic moms easier. My academic research focuses on feeding infants and toddlers during the transition to table foods, so I'm happy to share my expertise in that area as well-- though, I've learned that feeding my own daughter is even harder than I imagined!
Leanne Nieforth, Program Co-Chair
Assistant ProfessorHuman-Animal Partnerships and Interactions (HAPI) Lab
Center for the Human-Animal Bond | Department of Comparative Pathobiology
College of Veterinary Medicine
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and co-chair of the Moms Network. My research focuses on human-animal interaction in the context of education (i.e. incorporating pets into classrooms, therapy animal visits) and in the context of mental health intervention (i.e. animal-assisted interventions for people who have experienced trauma). Our daughter was born in September 2025. Balancing my role in academia and becoming a Mom was challenging for me, but I found so much support in the Butler Center and the Moms Network. I look forward to building a strong community, connecting moms with resources, and celebrating moms across the university.