The Center for Research on Families (CRF) continues to strengthen its commitment to research, advocacy, collaboration, and equity as it enters a new academic year. Earlier this summer, CRF partnered with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts to host the annual Women’s Fund Policy Roundtable at the UMass Center at Springfield, bringing together community partners for meaningful conversations about strategies for policy change and a more equitable future. As the fall semester begins, CRF has also launched another season of its Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series, featuring Dr. Jason Franz of UNC Chapel Hill, who presented “From Mechanisms to Mobility: Engineering Solutions for Healthy Aging.” CRF plans to host another TGE lecture this semester while welcoming the 2026–27 Faculty Family Research Scholar cohort.
CRF also welcomed its third staff assistant, an incoming UMass Amherst freshman, who will support social media, event planning, and outreach, including community-centered fundraisers through CRF’s ongoing partnership with the Amherst Survival Center. The center also recognizes Dr. Lorraine Cordeiro, former CRF Director, as she transitions into a new role as a Senior Faculty Family Research Scholar, and welcomes Dr. Kirby Deater-Deckard as Interim Director while the search for a permanent director continues. CRF looks forward to another year of guest lectures, Faculty Family Research Scholars, methodology workshops, community partnerships, and other initiatives.