Jennifer Finders

Areas of Expertise

• Early Childhood Education
• Child Care and Education Policy
• Child Development and Learning
• Research Methods and Program Evaluation
• Research-Practice Partnerships

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

• Developmental Health and Wellness
• Sustainable Organizations and Thriving Communities

Department of Human Development and Family Science Research Area(s)

• Early Childhood Education and Care

Biography

Dr. Finders joined the faculty in Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue in the fall of 2021. Previously, she served as a Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) State Policy Postdoctoral Fellow with the Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning in Indiana. Her research focuses on the role of early care and education programs in promoting cognitive, behavioral, and social and emotional learning among children from diverse backgrounds. She is particularly interested in evaluating policies and practices that aim to increase access to high-quality early learning experiences and reduce educational disparities. Dr. Finders also examines the extent to which foundational skills, including executive function and self-regulation, support children’s school readiness and later academic achievement. She is passionate about bridging the gap between research, practice, and policy.

Not accepting graduate student applications for the December 1, 2023 deadline.

Education

• PhD, 2018, Oregon State University
• MS, 2016, Oregon State University
• BS, 2011, Oregon State University

Websites

• Center for Early Learning
• Center for Families

Social Media Accounts

• Google Scholar
• Research Gate
• Twitter

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Mental Health First Aid Certification
• Safe Zone Training
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Science Consortium

Current Courses

• HDFS 346 - Research Design and Program Evaluation
• HDFS 409 - Science in Preschool and Primary Grades

Selected Grants

• Principal Investigator, Identifying Key Ingredients of High-Quality Preschool Programs in Indiana. Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Period: 11/01/2022-6/30/2026. Total: $2,020,646.
• Principal Investigator, Assessing Evidence-Based Curricular Use in a Broad Spectrum of Early Care and Education Programs. Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Period: 11/01/2022-6/30/2025. Total: $1,209,190
• Co-Investigator, STEM Ed PRF: The PURPOSE Postdoctoral Training Initiative. National Science Foundation. Period: 11/01/2022-10/31/2025. Total: $1,250,000 (PI: David Purpura).
• Principal Investigator, Enhancing Cost Estimates of Rural Child Care in Indiana. North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. Period: 5/01/2022-8/31/2023. Total: $39,953.

Professional Affiliations

• Society for Research in Child Development
• American Educational Research Association
• Society for the Study of Human Development
• Research-to-Policy Collaboration