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Fitzgeral received 2005 Child Advocate Award

By Gisgie Dávila Gendreau

Hiram Fitzgerald

Hiram Fitzgerald, MSU assistant provost for University Outreach and Engagement, has received the 2005 Child Advocate Award from the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition.

The award was presented at the Michigan Head Start Association’s annual conference, “The Fatherhood Factor: A Conference for Engaging Men in the Lives of Children,” at the MSU Kellogg Center on March 3.

Fitzgerald was recognized for his work to raise awareness of the vital role fathers play in their children’s lives, said Mike Kildee, family/community support coordinator for 0-5 Head Start, Bendle/Carman-Ainsworth Learning Community in Flint.

“Hi Fitzgerald’s expertise, his vision and his passion for the work that we do has made such a difference to those involved in the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition,” Kildee said. “He has always been available to offer so much, both academically and personally. It is an honor to recognize his efforts.”

Fitzgerald, also a University Distinguished Professor of psychology, has been studying fathers’ roles for the past eight years as part of a national research consortium evaluating Early Head Start programs.

“Our society has determined that fathers are not important; that mothers are responsible for everything,” he said. “We’ve developed a mother-blaming society. We’ve focused on fathers only in that they don’t pay their child support on time.

“The fact is that the vast majority of fathers play a critical role in their children’s cognitive development and behavioral regulation.”

MSU’s Office of University Outreach and Engagement is dedicated to helping MSU academic units construct more extensive and effective engagement with communities. The office advocates for and facilitates outreach initiatives across campus and gathers information about university engagement activities in order to publicize the ways in which MSU is fulfilling its land-grant mission.

“It’s such a deserving accolade for Hi Fitzgerald to be recognized as the recipient of the 2005 Child Advocate Award by the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition,” MSU President Lou Anna Kimsey Simon said.

“His compelling research on the role of fathers and the development of children is the type of cutting-edge, life-changing work we support and value here at MSU. This type of community engagement enriches the lives of families everywhere. He is most deserving of this award from the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition.”