Message from the Director

Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.
-- C. Everett Koop

Welcome to the web-site of the Child Study Center (CSC) at The Pennsylvania State University.
Our vision and mission reflect Penn State’s unique commitment to the integration of research, teaching, and outreach, and the belief that interdisciplinary science holds great promise for addressing pressing societal issues.  At the CSC, faculty and students from psychology, education, human development, and other disciplines join with community partners to design and transform developmental science, in order to improve outcomes for children and families. 

By cultivating inter-disciplinary collaborations, reaching out to work with a broad network of schools and communities, and fostering creative innovation and problem-solving, the CSC strives to make cutting-edge advances in developmental science that can inform education, health, and mental health practice.  We are deeply committed to fostering the capacity of our graduate and undergraduate students to make connections between their academic coursework and research and the “real-world” issues facing children and families, particularly those who are most vulnerable.  With the invaluable support of our donors and funders and our partners at Penn State and in the community, the CSC seeks to leverage the deep intellectual resources and research/training capacity of Penn State in order to enhance understanding and identify solutions, thereby improving the quality of  developmental supports available to children and promoting positive educational, health, and  mental health outcomes.

We encourage you to explore our site and learn more about the initiatives and the ongoing activities of the CSC.
Karen Bierman
Director, CSC