Our History

The Arizona Board of Regents approved the Institute for Children, Youth and Families in 1997 with the goal of drawing on campus and community expertise statewide to promote research and outreach on issues important to children, youth and families. In 2007 the ICYF began using The McClelland Institute name.

Mari Wilhelm, Founding Director

During Dr. Wilhelm's tenure as Director, the Institute for Children, Youth and Families established a reputation as a leader in collaborative research, evaluation, and outreach. Dr. Wilhelm established a Community Board that provided valuable advice and guidance. Their support led to several major gifts, including a gift from Frances McClelland for program activities, and the establishment of the endowment for the Norton Endowed Chair in Fathers, Parenting and Families.

Under Dr. Wilhelm's leadership, initiatives of the Institute included:

• Leadership for national conferences on Adolescent Health and Sexuality (1999) and Women's Health (2006)
• Establishment of the Early Child Development and Learning initiative with the College of Education
• The creation of the Fathers, Parenting and Families program, and the establishment of the Norton Endowed Chair in Fathers, Parenting and Families
• The development of the Evaluation Research and Development (ERAD) program that specializes in community-based evaluative research
• The creation of the service-learning program , now integrated into the Norton School Family Studies and Human Development undergraduate major
• The development of collaborations with the Center for Excellence in Women's Health .

Dr. Wilhelm is currently the Deputy Director for the Center of Excellence in Women's Health.