news
May 14, 2012Helen "Sunny" Ladd recognized as Duke University Scholar/Teacher of the Year - Sunny Ladd, professor of public policy and economics, has been selected as the Duke University Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award which honors a scholar's “dedication and contributions to the learning arts and to the institution." :: Read more
May 10, 2012Scott Huettel named Bass Teaching Fellow - Scott Huettel, professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Center faculty fellow, is one of nine Duke University faculty members who have been appointed to endowed chairs in the university's Bass Program for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, which recognizes professors with outstanding records in both research and undergraduate teaching. :: More
April 18, 2012Jane Costello comments on high rate of youth age 9-21 showing major mental health symptoms in longitudinal study - Discover Magazine highlighted the high rate (over 82%) of youth age 9-21 who exhibited major symptoms of mental illness at some point during the 12-year study co-authored by Center Associate Director of Research Jane Costello, who provided more context for the finding. :: more
April 2, 2012Frank Sloan and Beth Gifford receive $750,000 grant from NIDA to look at outcomes of drug treatment courts on family members - Faculty Fellow and Professor of Economics Frank Sloan, Research Associate Lindsey Chepke, and Center Research Scientist Beth Gifford will use NIDA funding to examine outcomes for drug treatment court attendees and their children, including recidivism, educational outcomes, and foster care. :: more
March 26, 2012Charlie Clotfelter explains how low-income lottery players end up funding programs they may never benefit from - In a Bloomberg BusinessWeek article, Center Faculty Fellow and Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Public Policy Charlie Clotfelter comments on how proceeds generated by low-income lottery players are funding preschool education, college scholarships, and other programs that have direct benefits for those in the middle and upper classes. :: more
March 21, 2012Tanya Chartrand says women engage in mimicry more than men and offers insights into why humans mimic each other - An article in the Globe & Mail features Faculty Fellow Tanya Chartrand, who offers insights into why humans mimic each other and how being mimicked can be beneficial. :: more
March 21, 2012Jeannine Sato features Durham effort that links families in need with used furniture - Durham Connects Director Jeannine Sato features the work of Christ's Hands Ministries in Durham, which helps families access available used furniture. :: more
March 20, 2012Jeff Quinn examines the role modern fathers can play and how they can be better supported - As a guest columnist for the Durham Herald-Sun, Center Research Analyst Jeff Quinn talks about the importance of providing resources to fathers that help them engage with their children. :: more
March 12, 2012Jacob Vigdor op-ed looks at factors behind the suspension gap and why it might be a good thing - In an op-ed appearing in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the News & Observer, Center Faculty Fellow and Professor of Public Policy and Economics Jacob Vigdor discusses the research of Joshua Kinsler on the suspension gap and why closing it might actually lead to an increase in the achievement gap. :: more
March 12, 2012Center co-sponsors conference on child wellbeing - The Center is co-sponsoring a conference, Crossing Boundaries: Public and Private Roles in Assuring Child Well-Being, which will be held April 27-28 in Chicago. The conference will feature sessions on disparities in child maltreatment risk and system response as well as innovative approaches to prevention and intervention. :: More
March 5, 2012In a recent N&O op-ed, Sunny Ladd and Jacob Vigdor explain why mandating Algebra 1 for 8th graders does not benefit all - Center faculty fellows Helen "Sunny" Ladd, Jacob Vigdor, and Charlie Clotfelter share results from a study looking at the long-term performance of students who take Algebra 1 in eighth grade and suggest that, for some students, "it may do more harm than good." :: more
February 29, 2012Charlie Clotfelter discusses college sports on WUNC Radio's State of Things - Center faculty fellow and Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Public Policy Charles Clotfelter retraces the origins of the NCAA and discusses how the U.S. differs from other countries in its approach to college sports on WUNC radio's State of Things program. :: Listen
February 20, 2012Desiree Murray on helping children avoid undesirable behaviors - Desiree Murray, associate research professor and Center faculty fellow, discusses how to help children avoid picking up undesirable behaviors in this Carolina Parent article. :: Read Article
February 16, 2012Clara Muschkin participates in early childhood panel for Raleigh Chamber's Education Day - Assistant Research Professor of Public Policy Clara Muschkin participated in a panel organized for the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce "Education Day." The daylong event focused on the importance of building and supporting an excellent cradle-to-career education system. Anne Bryan, senior policy advisor on early childhood for the Governor, also joined the panel, along with Anna Carter from the N.C. Dept. of Child Development and Early Education. Pam Dowdy from Wake County Smart Start served as moderator.
February 13, 2012Center Researcher Jeff Quinn leads workshop for dads seeking ways to engage with their young children - The Herald-Sun features a recent workshop facilitated by Center Researcher Jeff Quinn in which he offered specific strategies for fathers seeking to be more involved in their young children's lives. :: more
February 8, 2012Phil Costanzo to address substance use risk at Center for Developmental Science - Center Associate Director Phil Costanzo will address "Social Influence, Self Persuasion, and the Reduction of Substance Abuse Risk in Adolescents: Employing 'Old-fashioned' Social Psychology with Modern Day Youth" during a talk from 5-6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Center for Developmental Science, UNC-CH. :: more information
February 8, 2012In a CNN online article, Jennifer Lansford sheds light on why children suffering from depression may be targeted by bullies - Jennifer Lansford, Center researcher and associate research professor at the Social Science Research Institute, helps to explain why children suffering from depression or expressing negative emotions are more likely to be picked on by their peers and how friendship "can be a real protective factor" for those children. :: Read article
February 7, 2012Jennifer Lansford shares parenting perspectives from other cultures on Boston NPR show - Jennifer Lansford, Center researcher and associate research professor at the Social Science Research Institute, shares expertise drawn from her research in the Parenting Across Cultures project in a discussion about parenting styles from different countries on WBUR Boston's "On Point" radio program. :: Listen to the program
February 3, 2012Jacob Vigdor discusses his report on declining segregation in America's urban centers on NPR's Talk of the Nation - In an appearance on NPR's Talk of the Nation, Center Faculty Fellow and Professor of Public Policy and Economics Jacob Vigdor discusses a report he co-authored which looks at the decline in segregation in big U.S. cities. :: Read transcript or link to audio file
February 3, 2012New York Times blog highlights Charlie Clotfelter's book on college sports - The New York Times "Economix" blog features Charlie Clotfelter's book "Big Time Sports in American Universities" in a post that looks at the different ways to measure value of college sports on campus. :: read blog post
February 2, 2012Study by Jacob Vigdor points to major decline in segregation in urban centers - The New York Times delves into a study co-authored by Center Faculty Fellow and Professor of Public Policy and Economics Jake Vigdor, "The End of the Segregated Century", which examines a decline in segregation in America's cities. :: Read article
February 2, 2012Durham Connects nurse home visiting program just one part of Mary Semans' legacy - Durham Connects Director Jeannine Sato describes Mary Semans' role in establishing Durham Connects, initially a pilot program of the Center, and how that fit in her ongoing philanthropic efforts to improve the quality of life for Durham residents. :: Read article
February 1, 2012David Rabiner comments on study indicating that 20% of Americans have some form of mental illness - In a Duke Chronicle article highlighting results from a 2010 survey of 70,000 individuals, David Rabiner, associate director for program evaluation services, highlighted the fact that less than half will seek treatment. :: Read article
February 1, 2012Scott Swartzwelder describes how alcohol affects adolescents and adults differently - In a recent News & Observer article, Center Faculty Fellow Scott Swartzwelder explained that adolescents don't experience as much fatigue as adults who consume alcohol and, therefore, may be more inclined to get behind the wheel after drinking. :: read article
January 31, 2012Center Faculty Fellows respond to Obama's State of the Union remarks on compulsory attendance - Helen "Sunny" Ladd, Jake Vigdor, and Phil Cook shed light on why Obama's call for mandating compulsory high school attendance through age 18 would not do enough to impact dropout rates on its own. :: Read more
January 27, 2012Jeff Quinn to discuss importance of father involvement February 7 - Center Research Analyst Jeff Quinn will discuss the importance of father involvement in early development and share suggestions on how fathers can get involved in their children’s lives during a lunch and learn February 7. The event, “Getting Fathers Involved with Young Children,” sponsored by the Early Childhood Faith Initiative, will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2620 Weaver St., Durham. Bring your lunch; drinks provided. Sponsored by Durham's Partnership for Children and End Poverty Durham. To RSVP, contact Winnie Morgan at 919-732-1524 or winniewmorgan@juno.com.
January 27, 2012Joel Rosch receives top marks for teaching excellence from undergraduate students - Senior Research Scholar Joel Rosch scored in the top 5 percent of all undergraduate instructors at Duke for the fall semester of 2011. Rosch taught CCS 49S/PubPol 49S Youth, Crime and Public Policy, a first-year seminar, which uses the issue of crime to introduce students to the variety of issues involved in child and family policy.
January 11, 2012David Rabiner, Rick Hoyle, Jane Costello & Scott Swartzwelder contribute to discussion on off-prescription use of ADHD drugs - In response to an article that ran in the Duke Chronicle before the holiday break, David Rabiner, Rick Hoyle, Jane Costello and Scott Swartzwelder share valuable information from their research on campus use of non-prescription ADHD drugs as study aids and suggest other avenues for seeking academic success. :: More
January 10, 2012Joel Rosch joins panel discussion on education following Playmakers Rep performance - Center Senior Research Scholar Joel Rosch participated in a panel discussion involving public education following the performance of "No Child", a play recounting experiences of an arts teacher in New York City. :: Read more
January 4, 2012The Chicago Reader revisits a Ken Dodge op-ed on income inequality - Writer Steve Bogira discusses the idea Center Director Ken Dodge put forth in a 2010 op-ed piece to reduce income inequality: tie executive pay to the the earnings of the lowest paid worker in the company. :: more
January 3, 2012William "Sandy" Darity receives highest honor from the National Economic Assoication - Professor of public policy, chair of Duke’s department of African and African American Studies, and professor of economics William "Sandy" Darity has been named the recipient of the National Economic Association's Samuel Z. Westerfield Award. This award is the association's highest honor. :: read more
December 22, 2011Readers weigh in on Helen "Sunny" Ladd's recent New York Times op-ed - Readers have responded to Sunny Ladd's recent op-ed in the New York Times, highlighting key points and adding to the conversation. :: Read letters here
December 21, 2011Scott Huettel discusses the brain's response to altruism - Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and Center Faculty Fellow Scott Huettel describes how the brain reacts to the act of giving as part of this ABC News segment. :: More
December 18, 2011Maeve Gearing discusses obesity custody case in Herald-Sun column - Maeve Gearing, Center Sulzberger/Levitan fellow, discusses the case of an 8 year-old, 200 pound boy who has been removed from the custody of his parents because of his weight. :: Read column
December 15, 2011Anna Gassman-Pines receives award from SRCD recognizing her research involving young children's mental health - The Society for Research in Child Development has awarded Anna Gassman-Pines, a CCFP faculty fellow and assistant professor at Sanford, the first Victoria S. Levin award which recognizes her inter-disciplinary work examining the effects of welfare and employment policies on the well-being of low-income young children and their mothers. :: Read press release
December 14, 2011Latest school reform recommendations from Helen "Sunny" Ladd featured in Washington Post - CCFP faculty fellow and Sanford School professor Helen "Sunny" Ladd is recognized by colleague Diane Ravitch for the concrete school reform recommendations Ladd proposes. :: more
December 13, 2011Maeve Gearing and Sara Benjamin Neelon op-ed offers concrete ways to get fresh produce into preschools and child care centers - Maeve Gearing, one of the Center's Sulzberger/Levitan Fellows, and Sara Benjamin Neelon, assistant professor, Department of Community and Family Medicine at DUMC, co-authored an op-ed for the News & Observer sharing specific suggestions to get fresh produce into the hands of children in preschools and child care centers in an effort to help prevent childhood obesity. :: Read op-ed
December 12, 2011In a New York Times op-ed, Helen "Sunny" Ladd asks policymakers to address the link between poverty & educational performance - Helen "Sunny" Ladd, professor of public policy and Center faculty fellow, co-authored an op-ed with Edward Fiske encouraging policymakers to directly address the connection between poverty and educational performance. :: read more
December 5, 2011Jeannine Sato describes a program in Durham aiming to reduce the number of children who fall victim to sexual abuse - In an article for the Herald-Sun, Durham Connects Program Director Jeannine Sato describes the efforts that a local Durham program, ChildSAFE, is making to train parents, teachers, and neighbors in the community, raising awareness and providing tips on how to reduce the chances that children will fall victim to sexual abuse. :: more
November 30, 2011Jacob Vigdor comments on how a growing income gap contributes to higher housing costs - In a recent Huffington Post-Canada issue, Center Faculty Fellow and Professor of Public Policy and Economics Jacob Vigdor comments on his research showing that income disparity produces higher home prices and higher rents in a tight housing market. :: more
November 28, 2011Sandy Darity suggests an approach to generating a "Wealth Cycle" among African-Americans - In an MSNBC.com article examining the Black 1%, Sanford Professor William "Sandy" Darity suggests one possible approach to income redistribution among African-Americans, starting at birth. :: more
November 17, 2011Joel Rosch appears on a WUNC TV and WUNC radio broadcast of a Dropout Crisis panel discussion - Joel Rosch, senior research scholar at the Center, participated in a panel discussion on the dropout crisis alongside June Atkinson, state superintendent, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction; Karolyn Tyson, associate professor in the Dept. of Sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill; and Todd Finn, principal, West Bladen High School. The taped broadcast, “American Graduate: Keeping Kids in School”, aired on WUNC TV on Thursday, November 17; an edited audio version aired on the State of Things radio show November 23. :: Watch the program
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