Hughes-Belding named Nancy Rygg Armbrust Professor

AMES, Iowa – In a ceremony held April 15, Kere Hughes-Belding was named the Nancy Rygg Armbrust Professor, recognizing her sustained excellence and leadership in early childhood development, education and community-engaged scholarship.

A professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences’ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Hughes-Belding is a nationally recognized scholar whose work focuses on infant and early childhood mental health, home visiting interventions and caregiver-child interactions from birth through age three.

She has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on multiple large-scale, federally funded initiatives including Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting and Project LAUNCH. Hughes-Belding has secured over $6.5 million in extremal funding over the past decade.

Hughes‑Belding’s scholarly contributions include peer‑reviewed publications in high‑impact journals, national evaluation reports and invited book chapters that inform practice at both state and federal levels. She is also widely recognized for her teaching and mentorship, creating inclusive, practice‑centered learning environments and guiding students and early‑career faculty whose work extends the reach of her scholarship.

“I am honored to hold the Nancy Rygg Armbrust Professorship, which helps move forward initiatives for young children and the adults who care for them,” Hughes‑Belding said. “This role gives me the opportunity to help build and strengthen early childhood programs, providing useful resources that support families and professionals working with children.”

Nancy Rygg Armbrust, the professorship’s namesake, is a 1973 graduate of the college’s food science program. Throughout her career, she maintained a steadfast commitment to early childhood education through extensive volunteer services in her community, through her workplace, and in state government, serving on the Wisconsin Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council.

Through her scholarship, mentorship and leadership, Hughes‑Belding exemplifies the values of excellence, engagement and impact that the Nancy Rygg Armbrust Professorship was established to recognize.