Karen Bierman named McCourtney Professor of Child Studies

Karen Bierman, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies, was named McCourtney Professor of Child Studies in recognition of exceptional scholarship and service. Dr. Bierman joined Penn State in 1981. Her research focuses on social-emotional development and children at risk, with an emphasis on the design and evaluation of school- and community-based programs that promote social competence, school readiness and positive intergroup relations while reducing aggression and violence. Her work with the Research Based, Developmentally Informed Parent (REDI-P) Program, has recently been in the news.

Penn State’s Philanthropists of the Year in 2013, Tracy (’65 English) and Ted McCourtney generously provided the funding for this professorship. The McCourtneys have been leading benefactors to the College of the Liberal Arts for many years. Read the announcement in Penn State News here.