The past 2 years have been exceptionally successful for former Graduate Student Grant Writing program member Mélise Edwards (2019-20). Among her many accomplishments, she was awarded a Ford Foundation grant and named a recipient of the Wendy Helmer Graduate Student Award a peer-nominated award given annually to Psychological and Brain Sciences graduate students who work to improve the quality of life in the department and/or their program. Most recently she has been named winner of the Gilliam Fellowship alongside her advisor, Agnès Lacreuse, a former Family Research Scholar in 2012-13 and close faculty affiliate of our Center. Read more about the duo and their award here and join us in celebrating our two colleagues on this notable achievement. 

An expert on developmental toxicology, Dr. Alicia Timme-Laragy has been working with state legislators on the potential health risks posed by PFAS chemicals through her work as a UMass Public Engagement Faculty Fellow through the Public Engagement Project (PEP) a program on campus with strong ties to CRF. 

The Center for Research on Families is excited to welcome its new Director, Dr. Lorraine Cordeiro, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. She began her appointment on June 1, 2021.