Sheri Berenbaum, professor of psychology and pediatrics; Danielle Downs, professor of kinesiology and obstetrics & gynecology; and Leif Jensen, distinguished professor of rural sociology and demography, will join SSRI as Assistant Directors, a new role for the institute. Together with SSRI Associate Directors Josh Smyth and Keith Aronson and SSRI Director Susan McHale, they will serve on SSRI's Executive Committee.
The major activities of the Assistant Directors will involve developing novel research collaborations through SSRI's funding programs, representing SSRI in University committees and forums, and advising the Director. The involvement of Berenbaum, Downs and Jensen will increase the disciplinary scope of SSRI's leadership team, and their grantsmanship experiences will provide a valuable resource for faculty in the social and behavioral sciences at Penn State.