1:11 p.m., March 6, 2008--Barbara Settles, UD professor of individual and family studies, has been honored by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as one of six new fellows.

NCFR is the primary academic organization in Settles' field, and she has been a member since 1962 when she was in graduate school. She became a life member in 1964. “I have been an officer frequently and participant in the programs regularly,” Settles said.

Fellowship status in NCFR is an honor awarded to relatively few members of NCFR--no more than 1 percent of NCFR members will be awarded fellowship status in any one year--who have made outstanding and enduring contributions to the field of family studies through teaching, scholarship, outreach, professional service and leadership.

“The award for which I was nominated by colleagues was approved by the fellows committee at the annual meeting in November, and I was notified on Dec. 5,” Settles said. “The awardees will be honored at a reception in November 2008 at our meeting.”

As an innovator, collaborator and organizer of numerous international scholarly events, Settles has been a pioneer in expanding the scientific study of families to the international arena. Her professional travels have included visits to France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, Lithuania, Finland, South Africa and Israel. In addition, she has devoted significant efforts to students, both those from the U.S. and abroad, chairing over 40 graduate committees and preparing an impressive number of students who hold important positions in various international institutions. In NCFR, she has been a recipient of the Jan Trost Award and has worked with committees on theory construction and research methodology, public policy, public relations, research and theory, family action (later family policy) and membership.

Founded in 1938, NCFR provides an educational forum for family researchers, educators and practitioners to share in the development and dissemination of knowledge about families and family relationships, establishes professional standards and works to promote family well-being.

Article by Maura Brady, AS '08