Martha Farrell Erickson, Ph.D., Senior Fellow & Director

Harris Programs, Center for Early Education and Development
University of Minnesota
51 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Having served as the first Director of the University of Minnesota's Children, Youth & Family Consortium (1991 to 2003), Marti Erickson now directs the Harris Programs in the U of M’s Center for Early Education and Development and co-chairs the President’s Initiative on Children, Youth & Families. A developmental psychologist and adjunct professor in both Child Psychology and Family Social Science, Marti specializes in parent-child attachment, child abuse prevention, and children’s mental health. In all of her work, she strives to link research, practice and policy for the well-being of children and families.

In 1986, with colleague Byron Egeland, Marti developed STEEP  (Steps Toward Effective, Enjoyable Parenting), a preventive intervention program for parents and infants, and, since then, has conducted major research on the impact of STEEP and related strategies on high-risk families. Marti also was co-investigator with Bill Doherty on the Parenting Together Project, an intervention study to promote father involvement, and she was principal investigator on the Motherhood Study, a recent national study of mothers’ needs, concerns, values and experiences. Building on her research and intervention work, Marti speaks and consults extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Marti's publications include many scholarly articles and book chapters, a weekly parenting column “Growing Concerns,” and the book Infants, Toddlers & Families:  A Framework for Support and Intervention (Erickson & Kurz-Riemer, 1999 & 2002). Since 1995, Marti has appeared regularly as the child and family expert on KARE-TV’s (NBC) Today Show and Sunrise Show.  She and her daughter also are co-hosts of a weekly radio show, “Good Enough Moms”.

Marti has served on the boards of various local and national organizations, most recently the National Council on Family Relations, Prevent Child Abuse America, and the National Institute on Media and the Family. From 1994 to 2001 Marti worked closely with Vice President Al Gore and his wife Tipper to coordinate their annual family policy conferences (Family Re-Union) and related activities.  Over the years Marti has been honored by numerous state and national organizations, including the Minnesota Psychological Association (Outstanding Contribution to Psychology Award, 2003) and the Minnesota School Psychologists Association (Distinguished Best Practices Award, 2003). But Marti says her most important credential (and greatest joy) is being the mother of Ryan and Erin, now young adults, and grandmother of three.

Updated 8/06

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