The Center for the Study of Culture, Health, and Human Development (CHHD) was established in 1998 as a University-wide entity by the UConn Board of Trustees, in order to promote interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, training, and outreach related to human development and health in cultural context. The Center and its programs are directed by Professors Sara Harkness and Charles M. Super, with the collaboration of Drs. Caroline Mavridis, Saskia van Schaik, an Advisory Committee, and Affiliated Faculty.

Culture is the foundation of diversity. It shapes our health and development, it is ‘cultural diversity’.  It further defines the treatment of other diversities, such as LBGTQ+, religious minorities, and the cognitively, emotionally, or physically impaired.

A core CHHD activity is its interdisciplinary graduate seminar, offered biennially in the spring semester in coordination with a colloquium series, and a CHHD Project Seminar, which results in student projects.

The CHHD also serves as a context for interdisciplinary communication and the generation of research collaborations among participating faculty members, as well as the generation of unique training opportunities for advanced graduate and professional students. These efforts have been supported in part by funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Science Foundation.