Dr. Clara Gerhardt, professor in the Department of Family Studies, has coauthored a textbook titled Parent-Child Relations: An Introduction to Parenting. Published by Pearson, the textbook is in its 9th edition. It has also been released as an international edition.
The textbook provides practical approaches utilizing family theories to explore parent-child relationships and how they change throughout life. It is a comprehensive resource for students preparing to work with families, and as they become parents themselves.
"While working on the publication, I became truly aware of the magnitude and quality of resources within the Samford University Library," Dr. Gerhardt said. She also looked to fellow professors and students as resources.
"While researching the history of childhood, I found an eminent expert on the topic on my doorstep -- Dr.Ginger Frost from Samford’s history department."
Gerhardt also relied on two family studies students as research assistants, Melissa Belflower and Katrina Brown. “Both of these family studies majors excelled in their contributions, and they learned much about the realities of publishing,” she said.
Patrick White, a previous student of Gerhardt’s, contributed an essay to the textbook. Dr. Bryan Johnson of University Fellows wrote a moving reflection on fatherhood that appears in the closing chapter.
Gerhardt said she appreciated the assistance and support of colleagues and students during the project. "I could not have done it without them,” she said.
Gerhardt collaborated with Dr. Jerry Bigner on the publication but took over the project when Bigner died in 2011.
