Department of Human Development

Karen L. Peterson, Professor

Educational Background

Ph.D.	1980	Major: Child Development Dissertation: Factors in vocational choice by college women	Iowa State University Ames, IA
M.S.	1974	Major: Child Development Minor: Nursery Education	Texas Woman's University Denton, TX
B.S.	1973	Major: Child Development Minor: Music/Science	Texas Woman's University Denton, TX

Professional Experience

2005-present	Professor, Human Development Department of Human Development Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA
January 2008- Present	Coordinator, Early Learning Programs Department of Human Development Washington State University, Vancouver, WA
1993-2005	Professor, Associate Chair and Program Director Director: Child Development Program Department of Human Development Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA
1997-2000	Program Director (Assistant Dean) Liberal Arts Programs, College of Liberal Arts Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA
1993-2005	State Extension Specialist (E-4 Rank) (.20-.25 FTE) College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA
1991-1992	Invited Appointment: U.S. Department of Agriculture (CSRS) State Agriculture and Experimental Station Leadership Training Indianapolis, IN Assignment: Undergraduate instruction assessment October, 1991
1990-1993	Department Chair (Interim) Department of Child, Consumer and Family Studies College of Agriculture and Home Economics Washington State University, Pullman, WA
1985-1993	Associate Professor/Laboratory Director Department of Child, consumer, and Family Studies Washington State University, Pullman, WA
1980-1985	Assistant Professor/Children’s Program Administrator Department of Home Economics School of Education, Health and Human Services Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI
1977-1980	Graduate Research Assistant-Home Economics Research Institute/Off-Campus (Rural outreach) Instructor Department of Child Development Iowa State University, Ames, IA
1976-1977	Instructor/Children’s Program Assistant Director College of Social Sciences and Home Economics Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
1974-1976	Childcare Center Director, Pearl C. Anderson Day Nursery Day Care Association of Metropolitan Dallas, Garland, TX

Honors Received

Who’s Who Among American Teachers (5 nominations and selected 2005)
R. M. Wade Outstanding Teacher Award, College of Agriculture and Home Economics (awarded 1994) (Endowed Award)
Pullman Association for the Education of Young Children-Award of Merit (1991)
Kappa Omicron Nu (selected 1990)
Michigan Home Economics Association-Certificate of Appreciation (1985)
Michigan Home Economics Educators-Certificate of Recognition (1985)
Outstanding Young Women of American (selected 1982)
Honors Graduate - Texas Woman's University (1973 and 1974)

Professional Articles (Refereed)

Lanigan, J., Peterson, K. & Jewett, J. (2006). Building leadership capacity of family home childcare providers. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 98 (1), 70-74.
Jewett, J. & Peterson, K. L. (2002). Stress and young children. ERIC-EECE Digest (Research Review).
Peterson, K. L. (1994). Children's understanding: Case of the Easter Bunny. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 78, 1265-1266.
Peterson, K. L. (1992). Helping student teachers understand conflict among preschool children. The Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 13, 15-18.
Peterson, K. L. & Roscoe, B. (1991). Imaginary audience behavior in older adolescents. Adolescence, 26, 195-198.
Peterson, K. L. (1991). Using case study decision-making to facilitate knowledge of ethical positions. The Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 12, 7.
Peterson, K. L. & Roscoe, B. (1991). Imaginary audience behavior in older adolescents. Adolescence, 26, 195-198
Richarz, S. and Peterson, K. L. (1990). A survey of teachers, parents, and administrators on issues of integration: Implications for teacher education. The Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 11, 18-20.
Peck, C. A., Hayden, L., Wandschneider, M., Peterson, K. L., & Richarz, S. (1989). Development of integrated preschools: A qualitative inquiry into sources of resistance among parents, administrators, and teachers. Journal of Early Intervention, 13, 353-364, also in CEC Journal of Division for Early Childhood.
Peterson, K. L. (1989). Fostering social competence: The case of the socially diverse preschool classroom. Tennessee's Children, 31, 2-12.
Peterson, K. L. & Olson, K. L. (1989). Children's ideas about mother: Has there been a change over 30 years? The Journal of Child Care, 4, 27-34.
Roscoe, B. & Peterson, K. L. (1989). Age appropriate behaviors: A comparison of three generations of females. Adolescence, 24, 167-178.
Nelson, D. L., Peterson, K. L. & Richarz, A. S. (1987). Childcare as a consumer issue. Journal of Home Economics, 79, 5-8.
Roscoe, B., Haney, S. & Peterson, K. L. (1986). Child/pet maltreatment: Adolescents' ratings of parent and owner behaviors. Adolescence, 21, 807-814.
Peterson, K. L. (1985). Work commitment of college females. College Student Journal, 19, 213-216.
Peterson, K. L. (1985). Helping students build a personal identity through use of a portfolio. Illinois Teacher, 28, 173-174.
Peterson, K. L. & Roscoe, B. (1985). Work value preferences of college males. College Student Journal, 19(3), 310-314.
Roscoe, B., Callahan, J. E. & Peterson, K. L. (1985). Who is responsible? Adolescents' acceptance of theoretical child abuse models. Adolescence, 20, 189-197.
Roscoe, B., Callahan, J. E. & Peterson, K. L. (1985). Physical attractiveness as a potential contributor to child abuse. Education, 105, 349-353.
Shaner, J. M., Peterson, K. L., & Roscoe, B. (1985). Older adolescent female’s knowledge of child development norms. Adolescence, 20, 53-59.
Roscoe, B. & Peterson, K. L. (1984). Older adolescents: A self-report of engagement in developmental tasks. Adolescence, 74, 391-396.
Peterson, K. L. & Raven, J. E. (1983). Guidelines for supervising student teachers. Child Care Information Exchange, 33, 27-29.
Peterson, K. L. & Roscoe, B. (1983). Factors influencing selection of major by college females. College Student Journal, 17, 29-34.
Peterson, K. L. & Roscoe, B. (1983). The home economics undergraduate as seen in demographic profiles. Journal of Home Economics, 75, 38-40.
Peterson, K. L. & Roscoe, B. (1983). Neglected children: Suggestions for early childhood educators. Childhood Education, 60, 2-6.
Roscoe, B. & Peterson, K. L. (1983). Parents of battered and neglected children: What child care professionals should know. Journal of Child Care, 1, 21-29.
Roscoe, B. & Peterson, K. L. (1983). Teacher attitude toward material availability for teaching visually impaired students. Reading Improvement, 20, 239-244.
Roscoe, B. & Peterson, K. L. (1983). The TST for assessing the self-concepts of college students: Comparison with earlier years. College Student Journal, 17, 134-136.
Roscoe, B., Peterson, K. L. & Shaner, J. M. (1983). Guidelines to assist educators in identifying children of neglect. Education, 103, 395-398.
Peterson, K. L., Roscoe, B. & Draper, D. C. (1982). Utilization of appropriate projective techniques in assessing preschool children's personal space and body orientation. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 54, 67-70.
Roscoe, B. & Peterson, K. L. (1982). Teacher and situational characteristics which enhance learning and development. College Student Journal, 16, 389-394.
Roscoe, B., Peterson, K. L. & Voege, J. (1982). Most admired people: Do they exist for college female students? College Student Journal, 16, 283-302.
Peterson, K. L. (1980). An improved technique for interpersonal projective assessment. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 51, 472-474.

Proceedings (Refereed)

Peterson, K. L. (2001). Communication theory and Lilian Katz. Proceedings of the Lilian Katz Symposium, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
McReynolds, J. L. & Peterson, K. L. (1992). Children and consumer decision making a la carte. Proceedings of American Council on Consumer Interests, National Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Richarz, S., Peck, C., Peterson, K. & Wandschneider, (1988). Planned for lasting programmatic change. Proceedings of Planners Conference on Integration and the Least Restrictive Environment for Young Children. Chicago, IL. Great Lakes Regional Resource Center.
Peterson, K. L. (1985). A needs based theory for examining the acquisition of shame in children. Proceedings for the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Chapters In Books

Peck, C. A., Richarz, S. A., Peterson, K., Hayden, L., Mineur, L., & Wandschneider, M., (1989). An ecological process model for implementing the least restrictive environment mandate. In G. Gaylord-Ross (Ed)., Integration Strategies for Persons with Handicaps. Baltimore: Paul Brookes Publishing Co.

Grants Received (WSU only)

Foundation for Early Learning (Seattle, WA) (2003). Capacity building for Southwest Washington, (S.E.L.F.) Collaboration. (Total project $185,000; WSU Foundation recipient; K. Peterson, P.I.)
OSPI, Readiness to Learn Discretionary Grant, S.E.L.F. collaboration as recipients; WSUV faculty Lanigan and Peterson, as in-kind partners/coordination for project evaluation. (2003) (Total project: $280,000; WSUV component $16,000)
U. S. Department of Education, Early Learning Opportunities Discretionary Grant, S.E.L.F. collaboration as recipients; WSUV faculty Jewett and Peterson, as in-kind partners and coordination for project evaluation. (2003) (Total project: $525,000; WSUV $16,000)
Foundation for Early Learning (Seattle, WA) (2002). Planning grant for Southwest Washington (formation of the Support for Early Learning and Families (S.E.L.F.) Collaboration. (Total project at $17,250; WSUV as in-kind partnership)
Southwest Washington Independent Forward Thrust, Visual Arts Curriculum Development (2001). (with J Jewett, co-principle investigator) ($1,958)
DSHS/Cooperative Extension, School Age Child Care Training for S.T.A.R.S. (1998) (Mary Deen as principle investigator) ($3,333)
College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Innovative Teaching Award Grant. Development of a Multi-Format Course: Middle Childhood and School Age Care (1994) (with M. Deen) ($2,500)
Department of Human Development, Innovative Teaching Grant Award. (1993) (with B. Boyd and D.Cook) ($2,000)
Washington State University, College of Agriculture and Home Economics Innovative Teaching Grant. (1989) (with D. Price and S. Richarz) ($6,000)
Washington State University (1985). Grant-in-Aid. Children's perceptions of stress ($10,535)
U. S. Department of Education, Handicapped children's early education program. (WSU) (1986). Model program development in integrated preschools in rural Washington State (with S. Richarz and C. A. Peck). ($325,000 - three year grant.)

Agricultural Research Center Projects (USDA - Funded)

Preschool children's use and understanding of computers (1993) ($2,500)
Understanding conflict resolution strategies among preschool children (1989) ($2,000)
Parental role perceptions of urban and rural families (with C. A. Peck) (1986) ($3,800)

Endowment Secured

Endowment for the Child Development Program: $250,000 total from the Bruce R. and Jolene M. McCaw Fund (includes playground equipment and community outreach)

Refereed Presentations (National/International)

“Developmental change: 6-9 year olds, the youngest in 4-H” National Association of Extension 4-H Agents National Conference, Seattle, WA, December 2005
"Communication and training in ECE" National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference, Chicago, IL, November, 2003
"2003: Challenges facing childcare providers" Professional Development Institute, National Association for the Education of Young Children (Invited Panel Member), Portland, Or, June, 2003
“Working with mature adults as student teachers” National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference, Anaheim, CA, November, 2001 (with K. Olson)
Communication theory and Lilian Katz" Lilian Katz Symposium, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Il, November, 2000 (invited)
"Teaching child development” National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference, Toronto, Canada, November, 1998
"Understanding the 5-to-7 shift" Association of Childhood Education International, International Study Conference, Tampa, FL, April, 1998 (invited for second presentation)
“Understanding the 5-to-7 shift" Association of Childhood Education International, International Study Conference, Portland, OR, April, 1997
"What is all this consulting business about?" American Association of Family and Consumer Science, Nashville, TN, June, 1996 (with J. McReynolds)
"How do we know? Students vs. instructors on evaluation" National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, Professional Development Conference, Washington, D.C., November, 1995 (with B. Boyd)
"The big stick: Understanding intimate violence in the lives of children" Refereed pre-conference session, presented and presider, National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference, Research Symposium, Washington, D.C., November, 1995 (with D. Bagley, B. Borto, B. Boyd, and K. Olson)
"Child-sized shopping carts: Toys or tools." American Home Economics Association, National Conference, San Diego, CA, June, 1994 (with J. McReynolds)
"Determining optimal quality of life for young children." Pre-conference Session, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Conference, Anaheim, CA, November, 1993 (with J. Fletcher, K. Olson, S. Richarz, S. Doescher)
"The project approach: Learning about theories." National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, National Conference, Anaheim, CA, November, 1993
"Graphic representations of curriculum: Documenting undergraduate change." National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, National Conference, New Orleans, LA, November, 1992 (with S. Doescher)
"Analysis of child behavior: Using group process." National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, National Conference, Denver, CO, November, 1991 (with S. Doescher)
"Using case study decision-making to facilitate knowledge of ethical positions." National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, National Conference, Washington, D.C., November, 1990.
"Parental role perceptions." National Council on Family Relations, National Conference, Seattle, WA, November, 1990 (with C. Peck)
"Issues of integration based on a qualitative inquiry among parents, teachers, and administrators. National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, National Conference, Atlanta, GA, November, 1989 (with S. Richarz)
"Internship opportunities as related to the professional development of early childhood educators and students." Pre-conference Session. National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 1988 (with L. Dunlap, J. Robinson, and S. Richarz)
"Undergraduate students' philosophical views on early childhood education." National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators National Conference, Anaheim, CA, November, 1988 (with S. Richarz)
"Perspectives of developing teachers: What is important for children." National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators National Conference, Chicago, IL, November, 1987 (with S. Richarz)
"Supporting the development of student teachers: Using self-evaluation and performance criteria." National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference, Chicago, IL, November, 1987 (with A. Sugawara and S. Doescher)
"Perceptions of role responsibilities." National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators National Conference, Washington, D.C., November, 1986 (with C. Peck)
"Crises and normative events of childhood: Developing coping strategies for children." National Council on Family Relations National Conference, Detroit, MI, November, 1986 (with S. Richarz)
"Discussing reproduction with young children." Second Annual National Parenting Symposium, Philadelphia, PA, March, 1986 (with M. Goodwin)
"Toward professionalism - Undergraduate preparation and education of early childhood teachers - An integrated approach." National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators Conference, New Orleans, LA, November, 1985 (with M. Diana & K. Olson)
"Content analysis of non-subscription women's magazines." American Home Economics Association National Conference, Philadelphia, PA, June, 1985
"Assisting the school-aged child: Hospitalization and Child development students' views of children's rights (Research)." Association for Childhood Education International Conference International Meeting, San Antonio, TX, June, 1985
"A needs based theory for examining the acquisition of shame in children." Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Toronto, Canada, April, 1985
"An ecosystems approach for early childhood education for day care." Midwest Association for the Education of Young Children Conference, Des Moines, IA, April, 1985
"Adolescents' acceptance of theoretical child abuse models." American Home Economics Association Conference, Anaheim, CA, June 1984 (with B. Roscoe and J. Callahan)
"The decision to work with children - a look at quality and values." National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference, Atlanta, GA, November, 1983
"Older adolescents: A self-report of engagement in developmental tasks." American Home Economics Association National Conference, Milwaukee, WI, June, 1983 (with B. Roscoe)
"Problem solving: Cognitive skills." Intellectual Skills Development National Conference, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, November, 1982
"Vocational choice in college women." American Home Economics Association National Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, June, 1981

Refereed Presentations (Refereed State/Regional most recent from 2000)

"Organizational culture in early childhood programs." Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, State Conference, Bellevue, WA, October, 2006
“Program evaluation 101.” Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, State Conference, Bellevue, WA, October, 2005
“Book repair 101.” Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, State Conference, Spokane, WA, October, 2004
“Enhancing early learning: A model for supporting family literacy and community.” Pacific Northwest Library Association/Washington Library Association, Wenatchee, WA, August, 2004
"Training and generations." Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, State Conference, Bellevue, WA October, 2003
"Poverty and children." Infant and Early Childhood Regional Conference, Yakima, WA May, 2003 (co-presenter with J. McReynolds)
"At work: Rules of engagement." Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, State Conference, Yakima, WA, October, 2002
"Linking literacy and art." Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, Summer Institute, Vancouver, WA, June 2002.
"You taught it but…" Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, Trainers Conference, Yakima, WA, October, 2001
"Developmental steps: Handwriting." Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, State Conference, Bellevue, WA, October, 2001
"Adult learning: Evaluation." Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, State Conference, Spokane, WA, October, 2000

University/Community/Professional Service (active)

Support for Early Learning and Families (SELF), Clark County, WA:
Founding partner, Higher Education Representative, Steering and Development Committee member; Evaluation coordination for five grant-funded projects. Liaison to Clark County Early Learning Fund Planning Committee
Invited Panel: OSPI, Washington After school Network Panel of 50 (appointed 2004).
Board of Trustees (Chair): Fort Vancouver Regional Library (2002-present)
Advisory Board Member: Foundation for Early Learning, Seattle, WA (2002- present).
Advisory Board Member: Child Care Resource and Referral, Southwest Washington, 1996-present
Advisory Board Member: Clark College Early Childhood Program, 1996-present
Editorial Board: Annual Editions-Child Growth and Development (1998-present)
Editorial Board: Annual Editions-Early Childhood Education (1999-present)
Manuscript and text book reviewer: Merrill Prentice Hall; Delmar (1986-present)
WSUV: Community Engagement Committee, Chair, WSUV, (2003-Fall 2005)
Campus Representative: Campus compact (Multi-state Service Learning consortium) (2004-present
WSU Vancouver Campus Representative to Faculty Advisory Committee for WSU Foundation (206-present)
WSU Vancouver Campus Art/Gallery Selection Committee
WSU Vancouver Faculty Representative to the WSU Foundation (senate appointment; 2006-present)

Professional Affiliations

American and Washington Associations of Family and Consumer Sciences
Association for Childhood Education International
International Association of Facilitators
Kappa Omicron Nu National Honor Society
National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
National/Washington Associations for the Education of Young Children
National Association for Education of Personnel in Early Childhood Programs

Teaching/Professional Development/Training and Research Interests

Workplace climate, program evaluation, and generational training practices
Professional development in human and social service personnel
Best practices in child development instruction
Aesthetic development in children and adults