Few-Demo named department head of human development and family science

April Few-Demo, a noted family science researcher, has been named head of the department of human development and family science at the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Few-Demo currently serves as professor and head of the department of human development and family science at Virginia Tech.

She holds two degrees from UGA – a doctorate in child and family development as well as a bachelor’s in political science – and received her master’s degree in international policy studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining such an amazing college and department in the flagship university of Georgia,” Few-Demo said. “This is a strong, comprehensive HDFS department with prolific researchers who study development and family processes over the lifespan and phenomenal teaching faculty who deftly demonstrate that the content HDFS has to offer is meaningful not only for grounding students in their chosen professions, but also for their own well-being and relationships. I am excited to be a part of this department’s aims, innovation and growth. It’s a wonderful opportunity to work with longtime friends, connect with alumni and give back to my beloved alma mater.”

Few-Demo has been at Virginia Tech since 2000 and has served as department head since 2019. She is a faculty affiliate of Health Sciences, the Center for Gerontology and Women and Gender Studies at Virginia Tech.

As a family scholar, her research embodies a longtime commitment to investigating how marginalized individuals and families experience social disparities and inequities as well as how they engage in decision-making processes toward resilience and well-being.

Specifically, her research reflects a strengths-based examination of the interplay of relational and situational vulnerabilities and resiliencies as they relate to agency and personal power within the contexts of identity development, intimate partner violence, sexuality and decision-making. 

Few-Demo’s scholarship has been recognized nationally and internationally.

She is a recipient of the Wiley Prize in Family Science and the Alexis J. Walker Award for Mid-Career Achievement in Feminist Family Studies from the National Council on Family Relations; and the Sussman Award for Scholarly Contributions to Family Science from the Groves Conference on Marriage and Family, among others.

She has served on the editorial boards of several respected family journals such as the Journal of Marriage and Family, Journal of Family Theory and Review, Journal of Family Issues, Family Relations and the Journal of Family Communication and has been elected to several offices in the National Council of Family Relations.

She is a co-editor of the “Handbook of Feminist Family Studies” and a co-editor of the forthcoming “Sourcebook on Family Theories and Methodologies,” the leading authoritative handbook for interdisciplinary family scholars that is published about every 12-15 years.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Few-Demo to the college,” FACS interim dean Sheri Worthy said. “She is an accomplished leader with an exemplary record of teaching, mentoring and nationally recognized scholarship and will provide excellent leadership to the department and college.”

Photo credit: Virginia Tech