Kansas State University

Welcome to the first edition of the School of Family Studies and Human Services newsletter. I began my role as interim director of the school in July 2018 and will be continuing in the role until a permanent director is hired later this fall. As with any new job, there have been a number of opportunities to expand my historical knowledge, promote the success, and formulate new ideas for growth of the programs within the school.

 

What is now known as the School of Family Studies and Human Services within the College of Health and Human Sciences has had a rich history. The college was formed in 1873 with the offering of the first women’s course. The college has evolved into a diverse group of students and faculty focused on promoting the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through research, education, and outreach. “In a world focused on things, we focus first on people” is still our motto today.

SCHOOL HISTORY TIMELINE

1928 to 1955      Department of Child Welfare and Euthenics

Heads: Dr. Helen Ford 1928 to 1938

                                                Dr. Katherine Roy 1939 to 1945

                                                Mrs. Leone Kell (acting head) 1946, 1955

                                                Dr. Lois Schultz 1947 to 1955

 1955 to 1985      Department of Family and Child Development

1956 to 1985 Department of Family Economics (what is now known as Personal Financial Planning merged into the Department of Family and Child Development in 1985 before the name change to the Department of Human Development and Family Studies)

Heads: Dr. Lois Schultz 1955 to 1957

                Dr. Ruth Hoeflin 1957 to 1962

                Dr. Marjorie Stith 1962 to 1977

                Dr. Elnora Huyck 1977 to 1979

                Dr. Robert Poresky (acting head) 1979

                Dr. George Rekers 1980

                Dr. Judy Rollins 1981 to 1985

1985 to 1990      Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Heads: Dr. John Murray 1985 to 1990

1990 to present School of Family Studies and Human Services

1990 Communication Sciences and Disorders moved from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies was renamed to the School of Family Studies and Human Services

Heads: Dr. John Murray 1990 to 1999

                Dr. Stephan Bollman (interim) 1999

                Dr. Bill Meredith 1999 to 2009

                Dr. Maurice MacDonald 2009 to 2014

                Dr. Dorothy Durband 2014 to 2018

                Dr. Sonya Lutter (interim) 2018 to present

 

 WHO ARE WE NOW?

With the expansions of the programs over the years, we have become a dynamic group of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends. We employ 26 tenured, 6 tenure-track, 22 full-time non-tenure-track, and 8 part-time non-tenure-track faculty within the school. We are supported by 18 staff. Cumulatively, we have about 600 unique undergraduate students and 225 graduate students enrolled in our programs.

We have four distinct undergraduate degree programs—three of which are available 100% online and on-campus (Human Development and Family Science, Personal Financial Planning, and Early Childhood Education) and another that is available on campus to prepare students to become speech-language pathologists (Communication Sciences and Disorders).

We also have a number of undergraduate minors and certificates, which are all available 100% online and on-campus, including the Conflict Resolution and Kansas Insurance certificates and minors in Conflict Analysis and Trauma Studies, Financial Counseling, Financial Planning, and Human Development and Family Science.

At the graduate level, we have four certificate options, which are all available 100% online and on-campus—Personal Financial Planning, Financial Therapy, Conflict Resolution, and Youth Development.

At the master’s level, students can study Applied Family Science, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Couple and Family Therapy, Early Childhood Education, Life Span Human Development, Personal Financial Planning, Family and Community Services, and Youth Development. At the doctorate level, we offer training in Applied Family Science, Couple and Family Therapy, and Personal Financial Planning, preparing students for careers in research and policy.

 WHERE ARE WE GOING?

As the interim director, I have a number of goals that I hope to accomplish with the support of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends.

First, and foremost, is ensuring students know about our programs early in their college decision-making process. We are the destination for students interested in helping professions, so helping high school students understand the benefit of a college degree from the School of Family Studies and Human Services requires the assistance of many.

Later this fall, we will be moving into our new Student Success Center on the third floor of Justin Hall. Stay tuned for an open house early in the spring. We are excited to offer a place to showcase our research projects and provide a place for students to study and get the assistance they need all in one stop. (Special note to the emeriti faculty—stay tuned for an exciting announcement about a little walk down memory lane in the Student Success Center!)

We have a number of other projects underway that I look forward to updating you with in the next semester’s newsletter. Please enjoy the select stories we choose for the inaugural newsletter. Please contact me at any point with your stories! I would be glad to take you out for coffee.

–Sonya Lutter, interim director (lutter@ksu.edu or 785-532-1472)