2026 McLanahan Recipient Janet Currie

Congratulations Janet Currie

Congratulations to Dr. Janet Currie as a 2026 recipient of the Sara McLanahan Award. The McLanahan Award is given to a senior scholar in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the study of family change, the well-being of children and families, and related social policies.

Dr. Janet Currie received the award for her groundbreaking research on how child health, early-life conditions, and public policies shape lifelong outcomes. Her work has transformed understanding of human capital development in childhood, influenced policy, and inspired a generation of scholars through her mentorship, leadership, and public service.

Dr. Janet Currie's Statement

Receiving this award named after Sara McLanahan is a tremendous honor and also a deeply personal one.  I had the good fortune to be Sara’s colleague at Princeton. We co-taught, edited The Future of Children, and worked on several projects related to the Fragile Families survey (now the Future of Families) together. She was not only a towering figure in the study of family structure and inequality; She was a warm, funny, passionate, and deeply caring person who was a role model for all an academic life could be. It’s doubly special to be receiving this award with my friend Jane Waldfogel, whose innovative work on children and anti-poverty programs is read around the world, as well as to be following in the footsteps of Judith Seltzer, the first Sara McLanahan award winner. I’m so grateful for my nominators for taking the time to put my name forward and to the awards committee for selecting me. Thank you all!

Presentation 

Kelly Musick presents the award to Janet Currie in St. Louis, Missouri at PAA 2026