Purdue University Department of Human Development and Family Science

As of July 1, the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Purdue began a new chapter in its leadership.

After years of dedicated service, Dr. Valerie Knopik has stepped down as department head. We are incredibly grateful for her leadership, vision, and lasting impact on our department, and we wish her all the best in this next chapter.

We are also pleased to announce that Dr. Kim Updegraff has stepped up to be our interim department head. She will serve in this role while the University conducts the search for a permanent department head.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Knopik for her outstanding leadership and welcoming Dr. Updegraff as we look forward to this exciting new transition for HDFS. 💛🖤

Kathryn Obenchain’s & Megan Purcell’s new book shows how to make developmentally appropriate: “Early Childhood Social Studies: Purpose, Content, and Methods from a Developmental Perspective.” Congratulations! 📖 https://ow.ly/Ifju50Z78NJ

Congratulations to all of our HDFS Spring Awards Ceremony honorees! 🎉

We are so proud to celebrate the outstanding students, faculty, staff and community members whose hard work continues to make HDFS such a special place.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, including the families and friends who came out to celebrate these well-deserved accomplishments. Your encouragement means so much to our award winners and to our department.

Congratulations again to all! 💛🖤

🎉 Congratulations to our HDFS award winners! We are so proud to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our students, faculty, postdocs and research assistants this semester.

• Annabelle Atkin received a Rising Star Award from the Association for Psychological Science.
• Amy Janis received the 2026 Focus Award. Among eight total winners, she was the only student selected for the honor.
• David Purpura received the Christian J. Foster Award.
• Kelsey Davison received the 2026 Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award.
• Natasha Watkins was welcomed as a Fellow into the Purdue University Teaching Academy.
• Laura Elenbaas received the Jean Piaget Society 2026 Early Career Award in Developmental Science.
• Doran French was selected as a 2026 International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development Fellow.
• Kristine Marceau received the Trailblazer Award, recognizing mid-career faculty whose recent scholarly or creative work demonstrates significant impact and distinction within the humanities, social sciences and information sciences.
• Sophie Miller received the Center for Families Studorschka Grant.
• Patrick Ehrman received the HDFS Outstanding Doctoral Student Award.
• Moon Durham-West received the HHS Outstanding Master’s Student Award.
• Social Development Lab RA Hannah Oyer, mentored by Chloe Kim, received a Presentation with High Distinction award from the Undergraduate Research Conference.

Some of these honorees, along with even more award winners, will be celebrated next Friday at the HDFS Spring Awards Ceremony. More to come!

Thanks for a great semester, HDFS! 💛🖤

is live!

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Ben & Maxine Miller Child Development Lab School, we invite you to help shape the next 100 years of the school with a gift that will fuel hands-on learning, research and a place where children, students, and families grow together.

🎁 Give to MCDLS now: https://dayofgiving.purdue.edu/organizations/college-of-health-and-human-sciences

⚠️ Make sure to click on "Ben and Maxine Miller Child Development Lab School" before giving.

This Wednesday, April 29th, Purdue Day of Giving begins, and you can help shape the next 100 years of the Ben and Maxine Miller Child Development Lab School.

Your support fuels hands-on learning, groundbreaking research, and a place where children, students, and families grow together every day.

The day to give is this Wednesday, so be ready! Link in our bio.