Purdue News
Purdue NewsSeptember 13, 1996
(317) 494-7692
E-mail: berndt@vm.cc.purdue.edu
Co-edited "Peer Relationships in Child Development," (Wiley, 1989). Research interests in the area of social development. Studies include: the development of friendships during childhood and adolescence; the effects of friendships on social and personality development; the processes and outcomes of peer influence; and moral judgments and reasoning. Has written a textbook on child development.
Head, Department of Psychological Sciences
(317) 494-6061; home: (317) 463-5560
E-mail: gruen@psych.purdue.edu
Has done research on stress and coping including loneliness in adolescence and children's coping with chronic illness. Related research includes the development of moral judgment/values and cognitive development in children and adolescents.
Coordinator, Child Health Option (Undergraduate)
(317) 494-1029; home: (317) 447-4594
E-mail: HessL@cdfs.cfs.purdue.edu
Has expertise on parenting skills and parent-child relations during early adolescence. Studies aggression and victimization in schools among peers. Is expert on development of social-and self-competence from middle childhood through early adolescence.
(317) 494-7859
E-mail: altergottk@cfs.purdue.edu
Current work focuses on transracial adoption and marriage across the life course.
family studies
Director, Child Development Laboratory
(317) 494-2958
E-mail: karen.e.diamond.1@purdue.edu
Researching children's understanding of disabilities and the inclusion of children with disabilities in regular education programs. Has expertise in early childhood education and early childhood special education.
early childhood education
(317) 494-2938; home: (317) 474-6530
E-mail: elickerj@cfs.purdue.edu
Has worked in Head Start programs for 10 years. Specializes in early childhood education. Research interests include early caregiving relationships and infant child care. Conducting a long-term study on the effectiveness of full-day vs. half-day kindergarten. Studies social development from infancy through middle childhood.
development
(317) 494-2942; home: (317) 463-1616
E-mail: kontos@cfs.purdue.edu
Has done extensive research on child care centers and home-based child care. Has expertise in caring for and incorporating special-needs preschoolers with other children in child-care settings. Is co-director of a project called Indiana First Steps Evaluation, which is studying the impact of early intervention programs on infants and toddlers with disabilities. Has written two books on family child care. Research editor of Young Children.
(317) 494-6996; home: (317) 743-3492
E-mail: wachs@psych.purdue.edu
Has conducted extensive research on the role of environment and individual differences on development in the first several years of life. Current studies relate to children's reactions to caregiver turnover in day care settings. Has published three books and more than 50 research papers in these areas. Specific studies include the role of individual differences such as sex and temperament in mediating the impact of the environment on individuals and measuring the impact of early temperament influences.
(317) 494-2948
E-mail: melson@vm.cc.purdue.edu
Researches the parenting of young children and the role of pets in children's lives. Studies social development of young children, parent-child relations, public policy, and development of nurturance. Studied fathers of preschoolers and compared their social support networks and parenting ideas to those of mothers.
development and family studies
(317) 494-0503; home: (317) 742-1632
E-mail: myerswal@cfs.purdue.edu
Conducts parent-education workshops across Indiana. Has written several parent-education curriculum packages and trains other parent educators. Has researched and conducted intervention programs involving adolescent parents. Has studied how parents talk to their children about war and peace issues. Is an expert in nonviolent toys and activities for children. Is co-author of "Young Peacemakers Project Book" and "Peace Works." Earned national awards for two programs: "A Child in Your Life," and "Mentor Mother."
Head, Department of Child Development and Family
Studies
(317) 494-2941; home: (317) 474-6313
E-mail: powelld@cdfs.cfs.purdue.edu
Primary areas of interest are early childhood and parent education programs and family contributions to children's learning. Studied first-time and low-income parents to see how much support and information they received. Advises the U.S. Department of Education on national education goals and drafted a series of strategies to help parents prepare their young children for success in school. Developed "Links to Learning" parent education program. Has looked at relations between families and preschool/day care programs.
(317) 494-6221
E-mail: knb@psych.purdue.edu
Has researched sex differences and gender roles. Looks at gender in the media, the influence of gender and gender effects in family relationships. Is the author of a book on divorce and offspring. Has studied children's reactions to parental absence due to death or divorce. Will be available only during fall semester through year 2000.
Director, Family Research Institute
(317) 494-2952
E-mail: douglas.h.sprenkle.1@purdue.edu
Can discuss a wide range of family counseling topics including dating, marriage, sex and divorce. Pioneered research on inhibited sexual desire in couples.
(317) 494-6026; home: (317) 477-9651
E-mail: shelly@vm.cc.purdue.edu
Researches work/family relationships in small businesses. Has expertise in work/family relationships, family-friendly programs in industry, dual earner and dual career families. Also studies women and employment. Has published several papers on women in the workplace.
Director, Marriage and Family Therapy Program
(317) 494-2950; home: (317) 463-9863
E-mail: piercy@vm.cc.purdue.edu
Has written extensively on marriage- and family-related topics including the 1994 book "How to Stop Marital Fights Before They Start." Conducted a study of counselors and therapists to determine under what circumstances they would reveal to authorities the unsafe-sex practices of clients who might infect others with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Previously worked in Indonesia, where he supervised research and gave seminars on family therapy, delinquency and drug abuse. Also coordinated an AIDS prevention project funded by the World AIDS Foundation.
development and family studies
(317) 494-2937
E-mail: targ@cfs.purdue.edu
Interests include families and work and women's studies. Has conducted extensive research on the effect of unemployment on communities, families and individuals. Is co-author of the book "Plant Closings: International Context and Social Costs." Makes presentations to professional and lay audiences on adult children with dependent parents. Is head of graduate program in Department of Child Development and Family Studies.
(317) 494-1833; home: (317) 743-5747
E-mail: fontesl@cfs.purdue.edu
Has published extensively in the areas of family violence and sexual abuse. Researching sexual child abuse and areas of intervention; and marital and family therapy training as it relates to family violence. Also has expertise in cultural issues in sexuality and HIV/AIDS; child-centered family therapy; multicultural issues in counseling; and feminist therapies.
(317) 494-4691; home: (317) 497-3810
E-mail: grauer@sri.soc.purdue.edu
Studies families and the effects of violence on family dynamics. Especially focuses on gender differences in attitude toward violent behavior.
Head, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
(317) 494-4666; home: (317) 463-6849
E-mail: knudsend@sri.soc.purdue.edu
Expertise and research focus on family violence, including its social and legal ramifications. Books include "Child Maltreatment: Emerging Perspective," published in 1992; and "Child Protective Services: Discretion, Decisions and Dilemmas." Published papers focus on child abuse and neglect, reporting child maltreatment, youth services and battered women and shelters.
Development and Family Studies
(317) 494-2931
E-mail: lewisr@cdfs.cfs.purdue.edu
Has researched and written articles on stress of fathers with adult children and fathers whose children return home after a period of independence. Has conducted extensive research on family causes and treatment of drug abuse. Conducted a five-year study on ways to treat drug-abusing women, focusing on couple therapy. Has also studied teen drinking and smoking.
(317) 494-6977; home: (317) 463-6822
E-mail: cswensen@psych.purdue.edu
Recent research has been on problems in long-term marriages and on the impact of cancer on marriage and family relationships. Is expert on interpersonal relationships, particularly love relationships. Teaches principles and techniques of psychotherapy, interpersonal relations, and clinical gerontological psychology. Supervises adult clinical psychology practica.
(317) 494-0372
E-mail: reiko@vm.cc.purdue.edu
Editor of "Parenting: An Ecological Perspective." Is studying how academic achievement of minority students is affected by their parents' beliefs and practices.
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