Jenn Finders

Jenn joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University in the fall of 2024. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Learning, Development, and Education at Purdue University in Human Development and Family Science and Policy Chair of the Center for Early Learning. Jenn earned my Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Oregon State University and subsequently served as a Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) State Policy Postdoctoral Fellow with the Indiana Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning. Her research focuses on the role of early care and education programs in promoting cognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional learning among children from underrepresented backgrounds. She is particularly interested in studying policies and practices that aim to increase equitable access to high-quality early learning opportunities, including evaluating childcare subsidies, state prekindergarten, and quality rating and improvement systems. Jenn also examines the extent to which foundational skills, including executive function and self-regulation, support children’s school readiness and later academic achievement. To support her research, Jenn has received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD), and Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI).