FPG's annual review covers cutting-edge research and projects that marry research with real-world solutions for children and families. Director Samuel L. Odom introduced this year's edition of Stories from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute.

From the Director

In this compendium of stories about FPG, you will read about the many achievements and contributions of our investigators, scientists, and senior scientists. Giving this preview commits many sins of omission, because of the other great work that is not mentioned here.

One of the biggest career achievements of an FPG senior scientist this year is Francis Campbell’s publication of the Abecedarian Project’s impact on health in Science, one of the premiere scientific publications in the world.

Publication of the work on preschool programs for children with autism spectrum disorders, led by FPG fellow and scientist (respectively) Brian Boyd and Kara Hume, received recognition as one of the top 20 advances in autism treatment.

Emeriti FPG senior scientist Dick Clifford and Mary Ruth Coleman provided leadership for the state by service on the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, and a team of FPG colleagues continued to support the North Carolina Early Learning Challenge Grant.

Led by senior scientist Pam Winton, the Professional Development Center at FPG completed its first successful year, with one of its major events being the National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute. It attracted its largest national number of participants to date. Highlights of this conference were a striking keynote talk by Dwayne Ballen and a panel presentation by leaders from three major federal agencies that focus on early child care and education.

The University of North Carolina recognized the SCRIPT Project’s work to enhance the early childhood curriculum of community colleges around the state with the Provost’s Engaged Scholarship Award.

Lynne Kahn and Christina Kasprzak have led the reorganization of FPG’s technical assistance projects into an “umbrella” unit now called the Trohanis projects, honoring our past colleague Pat Trohanis.

The National Implementation Research Network sponsored their second successful Global Implementation Conference, as well as transitioning leadership of this productive group to Melissa Van Dyke and Allison Metz.

In addition, FPG continues to expand its research through collaborative relationships with colleagues in China, Portugal, Singapore, and other countries.

In the pages to follow, the reader will be able to learn about all of this work, as well as much additional great research and professional development conducted this year. In this midst of this productive year, we did lose one of our senior leaders, Dr. James J. Gallagher. Although he did not start FPG, Jim was very much the “founding father,” and we will all miss him.

Other FPG researchers and staff have moved on to other positions in other organizations or have retired, and we wish them the best in the next phase of their careers and life. Amid these transitions, FPG is fortunate to have new and talented people joining the organization, which bodes well for the future.

I invite you to turn the page and read the stories about FPG’s work.

Best regards,

Samuel L. Odom, Director

Read Stories from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute