Jenn Finders

• Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University

I joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University in the fall of 2024. Previously, I was an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Learning, Development, and Education at Purdue University in Human Development and Family Science and Policy Chair of the Center for Early Learning. I earned my Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Oregon State University and subsequently served as a Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) State Policy Postdoctoral Fellow with the Indiana Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning. My research focuses on the role of early care and education programs in promoting cognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional learning among children from underrepresented backgrounds. I am particularly interested in studying policies and practices that aim to increase equitable access to high-quality early learning opportunities, including evaluating childcare subsidies, state prekindergarten, and quality rating and improvement systems. I also examine the extent to which foundational skills, including executive function and self-regulation, support children's school readiness and later academic achievement. To support my research, I have received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), and North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD).

• –present Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University

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