معرفی
Mary Arnold is a Professor and Extension 4-H Youth Development Specialist at Oregon State University's School of Human Development and Family Sciences, within the College of Public Health and Human Sciences. She also serves on the Oregon Youth Development Council, advising on policy investments in youth thriving. Her work focuses on positive youth development (PYD), emphasizing programs that foster identity, health, and community engagement.
Education & Affiliations:
- PhD in Developmental Psychology
- Member of the Oregon Youth Development Council (appointed by Governor Kitzhaber)
- Affiliated with OSU Extension Service and 4-H programs
Research Interests:
Dr. Arnold's research centers on PYD frameworks, particularly the 4-H Thriving Model, which integrates identity exploration, health, and community action. She investigates how programs like 4-H create developmental contexts for youth to 'thrive'—defined as achieving competence, confidence, connection, and character. Her work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing policy-relevant outcomes such as upstream prevention strategies and youth-adult partnerships.
Key Themes in Articles:
Her publications analyze youth program design, evaluation methodologies, and policy impacts. Recent work addresses pandemic adaptations (e.g., virtual 4-H programming), the intersection of health and PYD, and the role of evaluation in measuring youth outcomes. She advocates for participatory approaches that integrate youth voice in program design.
Awards:
- National Award for the 4-H Thriving Model (2023)
- Outreach & Engagement Vice Provost Award for the 4-H Marine Ambassadors Camp (2014)
Advising & Grants:
Mentored Undergraduate Research Awards Program (URAP) students in health advocacy projects (e.g., YA4-H!). Collaborates with Extension teams to secure grants for youth development initiatives, including community-based programs aligned with Oregon’s 40-40-20 education goals.
Labs & Teams:
Leads 4-H program evaluation efforts, co-develops curricula like the 4-H Meat Animal Advancement Program, and contributes to the OSU Extension’s public health practice initiatives.
