Overview
The Evelyn Duvall Endowed Chair of Family Development and Community Health was established in 1986 through a generous gift from Dr. Evelyn Duvall. A pioneering figure in family development and family functioning research, Dr. Duvall was renowned for her groundbreaking contributions to understanding the family life cycle, relationships, and the evolving needs of families across the lifespan. The creation of this endowed chair laid the foundation for decades of impactful work, with an emphasis on:
- Advancing family and community health research,
- Fostering meaningful community engagement,
- Facilitating the transition of research into practice, and
- Strengthening human service capacities in the Sarasota-Manatee region.
Since its founding, this position has served as a hub for conducting community-engaged research and for developing innovative strategies and partnerships to improve family and community well-being.
Originally held by Dr. Jane Roberts from 2009 to 2022, the Chair was awarded to Dr. Dane Minnick from the USF School of Social Work in 2024 to continue this legacy. The Chair currently facilitates two primary initiatives:
- The Duvall National Scholarship Program, which enhances the chair's prestige and academic influence on a national scale, and
- The Sarasota-Manatee Duvall Initiative, which focuses on local efforts to enhance family and community health in the Sarasota-Manatee region.
The current priority of the Chair is addressing the impact of substance misuse, addiction, and related social determinants of health on families and communities.