Melissa A. Barnett

Melissa A. Barnett is an Associate Professor in Family Studies & Human Development and the Norton Endowed Chair in Fathers, Parenting and Families at the University of Arizona. She is the Director of the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth and Families, which supports innovative, interdisciplinary and collaborative research and outreach to improve the lives of disadvantaged children, youth and families. Her program of research examines the ways in which stressors such as economic disadvantage, instability, and conflict impact adult, child and family functioning and wellbeing. This research includes a focus on community, family and individual resources that buffer stress and promote resilience. Dr. Barnett’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Administration for Children and Families, and the USDA.