“Nan is passionate in her belief about the importance of building a strong faculty and nurturing those with great promise at the early stages of their career. She has often stated that faculty support shapes the future of the college, especially the young faculty,” said Mary Good, chair of the council. “With that in mind, in honor of Nan's retirement, the Philanthropy Council and other alumni and friends of the college came together to endow the Nan Crouter Early Career Faculty Award.”
Additional contributions to the Nan Crouter Early Career Faculty Award can be made here: giveto.psu.edu/NanCrouterAward.
Throughout her more than 36-year career at the University as a teacher, researcher and administrator, Crouter has made significant contributions in the field of health, human development, and family studies, and helped to advance Penn State’s impact on some of society's most pressing health issues. During her tenure, she has served as dean of the College of Health and Human Development for 11 years. Prior to her appointment as dean, she directed the Center for Work and Family Research, Social Science Research Institute and Consortium for Children, Youth and Families.
As dean, Crouter has led the college’s eight academic units and five interdisciplinary research centers dedicated to educating the next generation of professionals in the field and finding solutions to health issues such as improving physical and psychosocial health in aging populations, preventing risky behavior in children and youth, and addressing health disparities and vulnerable populations. She has also overseen educational programs ranked among the nation's best and spearheaded the renovation and construction of the new Health and Human Development Building and Biobehavioral Health Building on the University Park campus.