Through the Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series, CRF brings nationally-recognized speakers with expertise in family research to campus each year. This lecture series is integrated into CRF's major research initiative, the Family Research Scholars program, in several ways. First, the annual FRS cohort is deeply involved in identifying and selecting the national speakers who will visit campus to provide public lectures that highlight the importance of research on family and its implications for public policy. Second, when the speakers come to UMass Amherst, they provide research consultation to their respective Family Research Scholar along with members of their research team.
The lecture series began in 1999 through an endowment established in memory of Tay Gavin Erickson. To date, this series has brought more than 75 speakers to UMass Amherst, making it one of the University's most successful and well-regarded public outreach programs.
Information about upcoming and past Tay Gavin Erickson Lectures can be found below.