Karen DeBord, PhD

Bio

Dr. DeBord was was a graduate of Virginia Tech and was on faculty at Virginia Tech and University of Missouri before serving many years at North Carolina State University. She retired in 2010. She was the first Director of Graduate Program in the department and part of the administrative team. Dr. DeBord’s research focused on parenting education and outreach. She was instrumental is establishing a Parenting Education Network in North Carolina and published many articles about parenting education. She also was the primary author on the Preschool Outdoor Environmental Measurement Scale, published by Kaplan Co., which has led to many significant changes in how outdoor play spaces are conceptualized and built throughout the nation.  She continues to server her community in retirement, has written several children’s books (under the name of Karen DeBord Phillips), and owns a Bed & Breakfast with her husband at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

Area(s) of Expertise

- Parenting Education
- Outdoor Children’s Environments
- Child Development