News Release

Faculty member resurrects research scholar initiative

May 28, 2008

A Penn State research initiative which answered health and human services needs in the Harrisburg area from 2000 to 2003 is being resurrected by a Penn State Harrisburg faculty member.

Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies Richard Fiene has been awarded funding from the University’s Children, Youth, and Families Consortium which is bringing the Harrisburg Collaborative Research Scholar Initiative back to life after an absence of five years.

The original initiative, directed by Dr. Fiene and Dr. Mark Greenberg, directly led to the establishment of the Urban Community Partnership Initiative and the Capital area Health and Human Development Institute, both based in Harrisburg.

The newly established initiative, due to begin operations July 1, is aimed at enhancing collaborations among faculty from Penn State Harrisburg, other University locations, and the Penn State Hershey Medical Center who are interested in conducting research in the Harrisburg region.

"Substantial growth has occurred since 2003 and many University Park scholars are currently conducting research in the Harrisburg area. This presents a need to expand the communications links and scholarly ties among these researchers to maximize the results of their work to improve the quality of life in the region and beyond," Dr. Fiene points out.

Meetings of the initiatives faculty partners will be at the Capital area Health and Human Development Institute, located on Front Street. Persons interested in being a part of the effort or those seeking information, should contact Dr. Fiene at 717-948-6061.