Professor of Family Studies
Director, Center for Families
Director, Military Family Research Institute
(PhD, MS, and MBA, The Pennsylvania State University)

Research Interests

Work and family, military families, family stress, job flexibility, and marital quality.

Contact Information

Child Development & Family Studies Building, Room 105
Purdue University
101 Gates Road
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2020

Phone: (765) 494-6026
Fax: (765) 496-1144

E-mail: shelley@purdue.edu

Biography
Recent Publications
Education
Courses Recently Taught
Honors
External Grants
Professional Service

Biography

I began my career at Purdue two days after defending my dissertation at Penn State, where I earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies, and an MBA. The Purdue community has offered me tremendous opportunities for personal and professional growth, and today I am proud to be able to say that Purdue has been my academic home for almost two decades.

My primary research interest is in the relationships between work conditions and family life. Over the past 20 years, I have studied differences between small and large workplaces, how adults grow and develop as a result of their work experiences, and how different kinds of organizational policies make it easier or more difficult for workers to be successful at work and at home. In 1996 I became the Director of the Center for Families (www.cfs.purdue.edu/cff), and in that role have the opportunity to conduct research and engagement activities focused on helping individuals and organizations who serve families to do their work more effectively. In 2000, my work added a new direction when I began to conduct research about and for military families via the Military Family Research Institute (www.cfs.purdue.edu/mfri).

My research has been supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Henry A. Murray Center, the Department of Defense, and the state of Indiana; and has earned awards from the Groves Conference and Gamma Sigma Delta. I am a 2006 winner of the Work Life Legacy Award from the Families and Work Institute and serve as a faculty fellow to the Boston College Work-Family Roundtable. In 2005, I was named a fellow of the National Council on Family Relations. I serve on the editorial boards of the Journal of Family Issues, Family Relations, and the Journal of Family and Economic Issues.

Since my first day as an undergraduate, I have spent my educational career at universities with a land grant mission, meaning that they were created with the goal of bringing campus and community together as they carry out their discovery, learning and engagement activities. This mission both exhilarates and challenges me. It is indescribably exciting to have the opportunity to participate in changing lives - the lives of students who are the first in their families to attend college or go to graduate school, or the lives of front-line practitioners who find useful help from the research world. I believe that 'doing' and 'teaching' are great ways to learn, so I try to involve student colleagues in every facet of my work, including design, budgeting, instrumentation, data collection, analyses and publication. Everyone on our team is expected to share their expertise with other team members. Most of my projects also involve collaborations with partners inside and outside of the university, which presents great opportunities to learn about collaboration and life in the "real world."

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Recent Publications

Refereed Journal Articles (*=co-author, underscore=student author):
Faber, A., Willerton, E., Clymer, S.R., MacDermid, S.M., & Weiss, H.M. (accepted). Ambiguous absence, ambiguous presence: A longitudinal study of military families in war time. Forthcoming, Journal of Family Psychology.

MacDermid, S.M. & Wittenborn, A. (accepted). Lessons from work-life research for developing human resources. Forthcoming, Advancing Developments in Human Resources.

Pitt-Catsouphes, M., Matz, C., & MacDermid, S.M. (accepted). HRD responses to work-family stressors. Forthcoming, Advancing Developments in Human Resources.

Trougakos, J.P., Bull, R.A., Green, S.G., MacDermid, S.M., & Weiss, H.M. (accepted) Influences on job search self-efficacy of spouses of enlisted military personnel. Forthcoming, Human Performance.

Perrucci, R., MacDermid, S.M., King, E., Tang, C., & Brimeyer, T., Ramadoss, K., Kiser, S.J. & Swanberg, J. (forthcoming, December 2007). The significance of shift work: Current status and future directions. Journal of Family and Economic Issues.

Pitt-Catsouphes, M., MacDermid, S.M., Schwarz, R. & Matz, C. (2006). Community contexts: The perspectives and adaptations of working parents. American Behavioral Scientist, 49, 1-22.

Zody, Z., Sprenkle, D., MacDermid, S.M., & Schrank, H. (2006). Drawing the line: How are boundaries between family and business systems related to their strengths and performance? Journal of Family and Economic Issues. 27, 185-206.

Beal, D.J., Weiss, H.M., Barros, E., & MacDermid, S.M. (2005). An episodic process model of affective influences on performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90, 1054-1068. 2003 Impact Factor: 2.173.

Karakas, F., Lee, M.D., & MacDermid, S.M. (2004). A qualitative investigation into the meaning of family well-being from the perspective of part-time professionals. Equal Opportunities International, 23, 57-77.

Guest Editor of Journal Special Issues:
MacDermid, S.M., Galinsky, E., & Bond, J.T. (2006). Journal of Family Issues.

MacDermid, S.M., Galinsky, E., & Bond, J.T. (2002). Journal of Family and Economic Issues.

Book Chapters:
Perrucci, R. & MacDermid, S.M. (2007). Time and control in a 24/7 environment: Clock time, work time and family time. In B. Rubin (Ed.)., Workplace temporalities: Research in the sociology of work, Volume 17. (pp. 353-378). Bangalore: Elsevier.

Lee, M.D., Lirio, P., Karakas, F., MacDermid, S.M., & Buck, M.L., & Kossek, E.E. (2006). Exploring the meaning of career success among part-time professionals in organizations. In R. J. Burke (Ed.), Research companion to work hours and work addiction (pp. 284-309). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.

MacDermid, S.M. & Harvey, A. (2005). Work and family: What are the connections? In M. Pitt-Catsouphes, E.E. Kossek, & S. Sweet (Eds.), Handbook of work and family: Multidisciplinary perspectives and approaches (pp. 567-586). Mahway, NJ: Erlbaum.

MacDermid, S.M., Schwarz, R., Faber, A., Adkins, J., Mishkind., M., & Weiss, H. (2005). Military fathers on the front lines. In W. Marsiglio, K. Roy, & G.L. Fox (Eds.), Situated fathering: A focus on physical and social spaces (pp. 209-239). Boulder, CO: Rowman & Littlefield.

Lee, M.D., MacDermid, S.M., Dohring, P. L., & Kossek, E.E. (2005). Professionals becoming parents: Socialization, adaptation and identity transformation. In E. Kossek & S. Lambert (Eds.), Work and life integration in organizations: New directions for theory and practice (pp. 287-318). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

MacDermid, S.M., Roy, K. & Zvonkovic, A.M. (2005). Don't stop at the borders: Theorizing beyond 'Work/ Family.' To appear in Bengtson, V., Klein, D., Acock, A., Allen K. & Dilworth-Anderson, P. (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theory and research, (pp. 493-516). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

MacDermid, S.M. (2004). (Re)considering conflict between work and family. In E. E. Kossek & S. Lambert (Eds.), Work and life integration in organizations: New directions for theory and practice (pp. 19-40). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Task Force Reports:
Arthur, D.C., MacDermid, S.M., Kiley, K., and members of the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health. (2007). An achievable vision: Report of the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health. Falls Church, VA: Defense Health Board.

Technical Reports:
Schwarz, R., Willerton, E., Richardson , B., Ramadoss, K., Pagnan, C., Schultheis, M., Cari, S., Remnet, M., Schelling, M.,  & MacDermid, S.M. (2007). Family adjustment of wounded military members: An annotated bibliography. West Lafayette, IN: Military Family Research Institute.

MacDermid, S.M., Pagnan, C., Ruprecht, K., & Becerra, J. (2007). Best of the best: The 2006 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for excellence in work-family research. West Lafayette, IN: Center for Families at Purdue University.

MacDermid, S.M. & Wittenborn, A. (2006). Best of the Best: The 2005 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for excellence in work-family research. Purdue University: Center for Families.

MacDermid, S.M., Strauss, R., Robbins, N., Wenz, H., Chang, Y., Schwarz, R., Weiss, H.M., with Kontos, S. (2005). The financial landscape for military families of young children. West Lafayette, IN: Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University.

Schwarz, R., Swan, R., & MacDermid, S.M. (2005). The value of caregiving: A comparative analysis of compensation in military Child Development Centers. West Lafayette, IN: Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University.

Trougakos, J.P., Green, S.G., Bull, R.A., MacDermid, S.M., & Weiss, H. M. (2004). Influences on job search self-efficiency of spouses of enlisted military personnel. West Lafayette, IN: Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University.

MacDermid, S.M., Strauss, R., Robbins, N., Wenz, H., Chang, Y., Schwarz, R., & Weiss, H.M., with Kontos, S. (2004). Child care use and satisfaction among military families with preschool children. West Lafayette, IN: Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University.

MacDermid, S.M., with Karakurt, G., Richardson, B., Vaught, K., Christiansen, A.T., Tang, C., Schultheis, M., Kwon, Y., & Schwarz, R. (2005). Best of the Best: The 2004 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for excellence in work-family research. Purdue University: Center for Families.

Weiss, H.M., Beal, D.J., Lucy, S. L., & MacDermid, S.M. (2004). Constructing EMA studies with PMAT: The Purdue Momentary Assessment Tool user's manual. West Lafayette, IN: Military Research Institute at Purdue University.

Schwarz, R.L., Barros, E., Behnke, A., Chang, Y., Christiansen, A., Faber, A., Kwon, Y., Jackson-Mehta, A., Beal, D., MacDermid, S.M. & Weiss, H.M. (2004). Compendium of quality of life research: An annotated bibliography. West Lafayette, IN: Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University.

MacDermid, S.M., with Behnke, A., Christiansen, A.T., Faber, A., Kwon, Y., & Brown, S. (2004). Best of the best: The 2003 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for excellence in work-family research. Purdue University: Center for Families.

Legislative Briefing Reports:
Indiana Consortium of Family Organizations. (2006). Financing healthcare for Indiana families. West Lafayette, IN: Center for Families at Purdue University.

Indiana Consortium of Family Organizations. (2005). Gambling: What are the odds for Indiana families? West Lafayette, IN: Center for Families at Purdue University.

MacDermid, S.M. , Ruprecht, K., Philipsen, N.M. , DeZarn, K., & Clough, L. (2005). Growing Indiana 's human capital: Assuring positive futures for youth. West Lafayette, IN: Center for Families at Purdue University.

Tomarelli, M., MacDermid, S.M. , & Sero Lynn, R. (2003). The effect of changes in tax policies on Indiana families. West Lafayette, IN: Center for Families at Purdue University.

Invited Congressional Testimony:
MacDermid, S.M. (2007).  Supporting the psychological health of military members and their families. Testimony before the Personnel Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee of the United States House of Representatives.   Washington, DC. 

MacDermid, S.M., with Schwarz, R., Behnke, A., Christiansen, A., Faber, A., Trougakos, J., Chang, Y., & Weiss, H.  (2003, June).   The well-being of military families over time . Testimony before a joint hearing of the Personnel Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee and the Children and Families Subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee of the United States Senate.  Washington, DC. 

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Education

• Ph.D., 1990, Human Development & Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University.
• M.B.A., 1988, Management, The Pennsylvania State University.
• M.S., 1986, Human Development & Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University.
• B.A. Sc., 1982, Family Studies, Child Studies, University of Guelph, Canada.

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Courses Recently Taught

CDFS 605: Families and the Life Course
CDFS 612: Families in Social Context
CDFS 685D: Data Management for Family Research
CDFS 685S: Work-Family Relationships

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Honors

2006 With approval from the White House, appointed by the Secretary of Defense to the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health. Elected co-chair.

2006 Work-Life Legacy Award from the Families and Work Institute, awarded to 'exemplary individuals who have made an indelible mark on the work-life movement.'

2005  Awarded Fellow status by the National Council on Family Relations.

2003  Lee, MacDermid, Williams, Buck, & Leiba-O'Sullivan (2002) was rated as one of the 20 best articles published during 2002 by the panel of reviewers for the annual Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research.

2002 MacDermid, Hertzog, Kensinger, & Zipp (2001) was rated as one of the 20 best articles published during 2001 by the reviewers for the annual Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research.

2001 Lee, MacDermid, & Buck (2000) was rated as one of the 20 best articles published during 2000 by the panel of reviewers for the annual Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research.

2000 Certified as a Family Life Educator by the National Council on Family Relations. (Re-certified in 2005).

1999 Award of Merit, for research, from Gamma Sigma Delta (the Honor Society of Agriculture, Consumer and Family Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine).

1998 - Faculty Fellow of the Work-Family Roundtable of the Boston College Center on Work and Family. The Work-present Family Roundtable is a small invitation-only organization of national and international employers interested in work and family issues. I am the first family scholar to serve as a faculty fellow of the roundtable.

1996 Invited attendee, Family Re-union V: Family and Work, a conference sponsored and moderated by the Vice.

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External Grants

2007-2010 Principal Investigator.  Strengthening supports for military families in Indiana and beyond.  Lilly Endowment.  $8,995,584. This grant is affiliated with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute. 

2007-2008 Principal Investigator. Life history mapping with military populations. Defense Contracting Command. W74V8H-06-P-0557 (amendment). $50,000. This grant is affiliated with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute.

2006-2007 Principal Investigator. Life history mapping with military populations. Defense Contracting Command. W74V8H-06-P-0557. $199,999. This grant is affiliated with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute.

2005-2006 Principal Investigator. Life After War. Department of Defense. $75,000.

2004-2005 Investigator (with Volker Thomas and Dee Love). The ACT Program. Nina Mason Pulliam Trust. $25,000. This grant is affiliated with the Center for Families.

2002-2004 Co-Principal Investigator (with Robert Perrucci, Sociology). A Labor-Management-Research Partnership: Expanding Options for the Time and Timing of Work in a Continuous-Operations Environment. Bemis Corporate Foundation. $30,000. This grant is affiliated with the Center for Families.

2000-2005 Co-Principal Investigator (with Howard Weiss, Psychological Sciences, and Steve Green, Management). Military Family Research Institute. Department of Defense. $8,383,091. A component of this grant is affiliated with the Center for Families.

2000-2004 Co-Principal Investigator (with Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Boston College Center for Work and Family). Understanding the "First Job ." Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. $399,993. This grant is affiliated with the Center for Families.

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Professional Service

National Council on Family Relations
Elected Positions
2007-2008 Chair-Elect, Research and Theory Section
2004-2006 Chair, Reuben Hill Award Committee
1999-2001 Chair, Feminism and Family Studies Section
1997-1999 Vice-Chair, Feminism and Family Studies Section
This office carries with it responsibilities of the Awards committee
1995-1997 Secretary-Treasurer, Feminism and Family Studies Section
1992-1993 Co-Chair, Focus Group on Individual Development in the context of the Family Research& Theory Section
Other Service
2000 Member, Research and Theory Section Royalties Task Force
1997-1998 Co-Chair, 1998 Pre-conference planning committee, Appointed by Program Vice-President
1996-1997 Member, Feminism and Family Studies SEction Mentoring Committee
1996-1997 Chair, Feminism and Family Studies Section Awards Funding Review Committee
1995-1996 Chair, Task Force on Technology (appointed by the president)
1993-1997 Member, Reuben Hill Award Committee, National Council on Family Relations
1996-1997, 2006 Member, Feminism and Family Studies Section Awards Committee

Alliance of WORK/LIFE Professionals
2002-2003 Member, National Program Committee
2002-2003 Member, Editorial Board for National Newsletter

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