Frances Attenhofer

Frances Attenhofer serves as an Instructor and Director of the Early Childhood Development Center within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Human Development & Family Science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's College of Liberal Arts.

Her educational background includes:

• M.A. in Teaching (2016) from Northwestern State University
• B.A. in Mass Communication (2001) from Louisiana State University

Ms. Attenhofer specializes in early childhood development, with research interests spanning developmental psychology, family dynamics, and educational sociology. Her teaching focuses on human development trajectories in young children, examining social interactions, cognitive growth, and environmental influences within family science frameworks. This interdisciplinary approach bridges sociological theory with practical applications in early education settings.

As Director of the Early Childhood Development Center, she oversees research initiatives and community programs focused on child development assessment, caregiver-child interaction models, and evidence-based early intervention strategies. Her work integrates anthropological perspectives on cultural variations in child-rearing practices within the broader human development continuum.