Ballard to chair Child Development and Family Relations
Dr. Sharon M. Ballard has been appointed the new chair of East Carolina University’s Department of Child Development and Family Relations following a national search.
Dr. Sharon Ballard
Ballard joined the faculty of the department in 2000 and served as interim chair for one year. Ballard has taught for The University of Tennessee – Knoxville and Western Carolina University. She also taught family and consumer sciences in the public schools for six years.
Ballard’s research interests include family life education, sexuality education, parenting education, service-learning and community engaged scholarship. The majority of her publications are related to family life education and sexuality education.
“I am thrilled to serve as chair of such a vibrant department,” said Ballard. “CDFR has amazing faculty, staff and students and our nationally recognized programs prepare students for rewarding careers in which they make a positive difference for children, families, and communities. It is gratifying to lead a department that has such a positive impact, not only in Eastern North Carolina, but nationally and internationally.” she said.
Ballard is the past chair of the Certified Family Life Educator Advisory Committee with the National Council on Family Relations and she was the 2012 recipient of the Certified Family Life Education Service award.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics education from the University of Maine. She received both a master’s degree and doctorate in child and family studies from The University of Tennessee – Knoxville. Ballard is a Certified Family Life Educator, Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences, a trained provider of the Triple P Parenting Program and a licensed K-12 family and consumer sciences teacher.
The Department of Child Development and Family Relations is housed within the College of Human Ecology. For more information on the College of Human Ecology, its students and programs, visit www.ecu.edu/che.