معرفی
Katherine A. MacTavish, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences within the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University. She joined Oregon State in 2001 after previously working as an adjunct instructor of early childhood education at the University of New Mexico-Valencia and as coordinator of early childhood programs for Magdalena Municipal Schools in New Mexico. Dr. MacTavish holds a bachelor's degree in Arts Education and a master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of New Mexico, and a doctoral degree in Human and Community Development from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. MacTavish's research centers on examining how small towns and rural places function for the children and families who call them home. Since 1997, she has been examining contextual factors that shape developmental pathways for children and youth in rural trailer parks. Her work explores the role of trailer parks as a source of affordable housing for rural families, particularly focusing on the experiences of working-poor families navigating the 'mobile home industrial complex.' She has co-authored the book 'Singlewide: Chasing the American Dream in a Rural Trailer Park' which examines trailer park life across three distinct cultural contexts - white families in Illinois, Hispanic families in New Mexico, and African American families in North Carolina.
Her current research includes studying the return migration of rural young people - those who, after gaining education in urban areas, return to their rural hometowns. This work explores how these young people navigate family and community perceptions that returning home somehow signals failure. Dr. MacTavish has also been actively involved in initiatives related to equity, inclusion, and diversity, including the 'Transforming Academia for Equity' and 'Land Grant University for Equity and Justice' initiatives.
Dr. MacTavish's scholarly work, including her 23 publications with over 3,600 reads and 267 citations, consistently focuses on rural poverty, community development, and the intersection of housing and family life. Her research combines ethnographic methods with policy analysis to address systemic issues affecting rural communities, particularly examining how economic and social conditions impact rural community health and family wellbeing.
Dr. MacTavish has been instrumental in connecting academic research with practical community applications, sharing her findings directly with the families who participated in her studies. Her work demonstrates how reading research about their own experiences has helped participants reconsider their circumstances and possibilities.
Outside of her academic work, Dr. MacTavish enjoys running, gardening, and spending time with her family. She emphasizes the importance of patience in scholarship and encourages students to be present in their educational journey rather than worrying about the future.
