HDFS Professor Dr. Stephen Erath selected as Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies for the College of Human Sciences

With a career spanning more than a decade in the Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) within the College of Human Sciences, Dr. Stephen Erath looks forward to a new chapter serving as the Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies.

Dr. Jennifer Kerpelman, who served as Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies since 2011, recently accepted the position of Auburn University’s Associate Vice President for Research on Jan. 1. Since the new year, Erath stepped into his new role where he looks to excel in a position and college that has seen tremendous growth in research funding and enhanced research support for faculty in previous years under the direction of Kerpelman.

"I am excited to promote 'science for a quality life' by supporting CHS faculty and graduate students in their research and creative scholarship efforts," Erath said. "I have benefited from supportive colleagues in CHS throughout my career, and I hope I can reciprocate in this position."

Erath earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University in 1999 and proceeded to earn both his master’s degree and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Pennsylvania State University in 2002 and 2006. He joined Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences in 2006 as a postdoctoral fellow working on NIH-funded research with HDFS professors Dr. Mona El-Sheikh and Dr. Greg Pettit.

“Dr. Erath’s unwavering dedication to fostering a culture of excellence as a faculty member in Human Development and Family Science will propel our overall college to new heights as he steps into the role of Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies,” said Susan Hubbard, Dean of the College of Human Sciences. “Dr. Erath brings a wealth of expertise and experience to this pivotal role as we broaden our research and graduate programs.”

In 2008, Erath was hired as an assistant professor in HDFS and later promoted to associate professor and then full professor. During that time, he served as the graduate program officer in HDFS for eight years and interim co-associate dean for research in CHS for one year. Over the years, he has also served as an associate editor and editorial board member for scholarly journals and as a member of NIH scientific review panels.  

“HDFS is a productive department in part because the faculty, staff, and students care deeply about the quality and impact of their work, everyone’s efforts are valued, and people work together,” Erath said. “It’s a great model. In HDFS, I have been part of collaborative efforts that have prepared me to facilitate collaborations at the college level.”

Moving forward, Erath has several goals he wants to achieve while serving as the Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies.

“My goals are to get to know the faculty, staff, and graduate students in CHS; to better understand their interests and goals related to research and creative scholarship; and to help them find and capitalize on opportunities within and beyond the university to advance their work – basically, to help them reach their goals,” Erath said. “This will lead to greater research and creative scholarship activity in the college and contribute to the mission of the university.”