NEW EDWARD ZIGLER RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE TO PHD. STUDENTS
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
National Head Start Association Honors “Father of Head Start”

Alexandria, VA – December 23, 2003 – PhD. students pursing research in psychology, public policy, or education can now apply for the $3,000 Edward Zigler Research Scholarship, honoring the man often referred to as the “father of Head Start.”

“Dr. Zigler has dedicated a major portion of his life to making Head Start grow and grow stronger. We created this award to honor his work and to encourage upcoming researchers who are committed to children and families,” says Sarah Greene, president and CEO of the National Head Start Association.

The award has been designed to encourage the scholarly development and professional preparation of future child development leaders and researchers. It will be an annual, one-time award of $3,000.

The recipient will pursue a PhD. in research with an emphasis on psychology, public policy, education, or a related discipline at an accredited college or university. She or he will possess a strong desire to help children and families and a demonstrated commitment to child development.

The scholarship announcement and application can also be found at www.nhsa.org. Completed applications are due January 15, 2004. The scholarship award winner will be announced at NHSA’s 31st Annual Training Conference in Anaheim, California, April 21-24, 2004.

ABOUT DR. ZIGLER

Dr. Edward F. Zigler is a Sterling Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale University and the director of Yale’s Center in Child Development and Social Policy. Dr. Zigler received a B.S. degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and obtained his PhD. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1958. He taught at the University of Missouri at Columbia for one year before coming to Yale University in 1959. At Yale, Dr. Zigler directs a distinguished laboratory engaged in a variety of basic and applied studies of child development and family functioning.

In 1970, Dr. Zigler was named by President Nixon to become the Chief of the U.S. Children’s Bureau and the first director of the Office of Child Development (now the Administration on Children, Youth and Families) where he oversaw the nation’s Head Start program and led efforts to create other innovative programs such as Home Start, Education for Parenthood, the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification program, and the Child and Family Resource Center Program.

His scholarly work encompasses the fields of mental retardation, psychopathology, intervention programs for economically disadvantaged children, and the effects of out-of-home care on the children of working parents. He headed a national committee of distinguished Americans charged with examining the possibility of making infant care leaves a reality in America, work that inspired the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Dr. Zigler is the author or editor of 32 books and has written more than 600 scholarly articles. He is a member of the editorial boards of over 10 professional journals. He has received the Heinz Family Foundation Award in Public Policy; the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education; the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Award, and many others.

ABOUT NHSA

The National Head Start Association is a private not-for-profit membership organization dedicated exclusively to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families. It represents more than 900,000 children, 190,000 staff and 2,500 Head Start programs in the United States. The association provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families; by providing extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff; and by developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.