The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension and the School of Human Ecology have a long history of collaboration. Our shared work centers on a mission both to extend the benefits of the university’s research and activities throughout the state and also to honor the community knowledge from across Wisconsin to inform the research undertaken at the university.
Specifically, the Extension–Human Ecology partnership manifests in two main ways: first, through the work of several “integrated specialists”—tenure-track faculty and academic staff with expertise in family health, food security, financial well-being, maternal child health, and caregiving; and second, through projects hosted through the School of Human Ecology’s Center for Financial Security.
Extension faculty liaison
Dr. Judi Bartfeld
Extension specialist,
Health and Well-Being Institute
Professor, Consumer Science
Areas of expertise: food security research and policy
Integrated specialists
Dr. Matthew Calvert
Extension specialist, Positive Youth Development Institute
Professor of Civil Society & Community Studies
Areas of expertise: youth civic engagement, community youth program development, youth program evaluation, youth-adult partnership
Dr. J. Michael Collins
Extension specialist, Human Development and Relationships Institute and Health and Well-Being Institute
Fetzer Family Chair in Consumer and Personal Finance; Professor, Consumer Science and Public Affairs
Areas of expertise: financial security research and policy
Dr. Larissa Duncan
Extension specialist, Health and Well-Being Institute and Human Development and Relationships Institute
Elizabeth C. Davies Chair in Child and Family Well-Being; Associate professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Areas of expertise: healthy minds, children and families; health equity; mindfulness, stress and coping; mindful parenting
Dr. Margaret Kerr
Extension specialist, Human Development and Relationships Institute
Assistant professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Areas of expertise: Parenting and parents’ well-being
Dr. Kristin Litzelman
Extension specialist, Human Development and Relationships Institute and Health and Well-Being Institute
Associate professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Areas of expertise: Family caregiver and families across the life course
Dr. Robert Nix
Extension specialist, Human Development and Relationships Institute
Audrey Rothermel-Bascom Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Areas of expertise: Parenting and children’s social-emotional development
Dr. Zoua M. Vang
Extension Specialist, Health and Well-Being Institute
Meta Schroeder Beckner Outreach Professor; Professor, Civil Society and Community Studies
Areas of expertise: maternal child health, immigrant health; Indigenous perinatal heath & wellness; cultural safety; community-based participatory research