Marsha Kline Pruett

Marsha Kline Pruett, the Maconda Brown O'Connor Professor at the Smith College School for Social Work, is a leading scholar in co-parenting, father involvement, and family systems dynamics. She directs the Ph.D. program and teaches doctoral/masters courses while also providing clinical services and consulting on organizational dispute resolution.

• Education:
  • B.A., University of Pennsylvania
  • M.S., University of Pennsylvania
  • M.S.L., Yale School of Law
  • Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley
  • ABPP (American Board of Professional Psychology)

Her research focuses on father engagement, co-parenting interventions, and family policy. Key projects include the Supporting Father Involvement initiative and development of cross-culturally valid coparenting tools now translated into six languages.

Recent publications reveal trends in attachment theory, child welfare, and cross-national program implementation. She has received the Stanley Cohen Award for Distinguished Research (2017) and contributed to UK's Parents as Partners program recognized nationally.

As a clinical psychologist and attorney, she bridges legal and mental health disciplines. Current work includes integrating the Supporting Father Involvement program into the Brazelton Touchpoints Center and validating coparenting tools across cultural groups.