Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Member Recognized

Written by: Georgia Godfrey

Lane Powell, of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, received the Meritorious Service to Families Award from the National Council on Family Relations. Powell was honored at the National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference that was held in Pittsburgh earlier this month.

"The Department of Human Development and Family Studies strives to provide students with a unique outlook on interpersonal relationships within families," said Linda Hoover, dean of the College of Human Sciences. "Dr. Powell’s dedication to the study of families helps to fulfill the College’s goals of providing our students with a deeper understanding of the importance of these key relationships."

Powell was honored for her work as department chair at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., where she developed the Human Development and Family Studies academic program and oversaw the construction of the Children’s Research and Development Center there from 1985-1999. Powell was also cited for her authorship of the first undergraduate textbook in Family Life Education and for her work as a group facilitator couple along with her husband in the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment for more than 25 years.

Now in her 10th year as a faculty member at Texas Tech, Powell continues to build on her work at Samford University. She has been an advisor to the Texas Tech Council on Family Relations, which has won awards as a student professional affiliate, for seven years and she is also the certification advisor for the Certified Family Life Educator Program and a career advising specialist.

The College of Human Sciences Department of Human Development and Family Studies is a multidisciplinary department that has an applied developmental research focus directed to the study of individual development and relationship processes through research, teaching and service. The department serves students in both early childhood education and the human development and family studies majors.

CONTACT: Georgia Godfrey, coordinator for college development and external relations, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-3263, or georgia.godfrey@ttu.edu.