Kory Floyd lived in Pullman for part of his childhood while his dad was pursuing a doctorate from Washington State University. Now, almost 50 years later, Floyd is returning to the Palouse as chair of WSU’s Department of Human Development (HD).
“I have always been a WSU fan,” said Floyd, who is currently a professor at the University of Arizona. “Even though I didn’t go there as a student, I own more Cougar gear than Arizona gear.”
Floyd takes the reins from HD interim chair Debbie Handy on Aug. 16.
“Dr. Floyd has an impressive background and knows how important collaborative, impactful departments are to WSU and our college,” said Scot Hulbert, acting dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “I’m excited for him to join the human development department and lead them to even greater teaching and research success.”
After leaving Pullman, Floyd spent most of his formative years near Puyallup, Washington, before earning a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and attending graduate school at the University of Washington.
After several decades in the Southwest, where he earned a PhD in communication at the University of Arizona, he returns to the Pacific Northwest to lead a multi-disciplinary department that will make use of his background in interpersonal communications.
“I see communication and human development as sister disciplines,” he said. “A key part of human development is to communicate and relate; to get our messages out and to understand messages from others and build relationships.”
Floyd will bring his skills to a department with faculty on both the Pullman and Vancouver campuses. HD has experts in each location that focus on topics across the lifespan, from scientists who study newborns and toddlers to gerontologists whose work centers around older adults. Floyd said he’s impressed by the breadth of what the department covers and by the faculty’s outreach.
“So much of the HD faculty’s work is highly applied and has a direct impact on people’s lives,” he said.
The new chair arrives at a financially and culturally uncertain time for WSU, so his first goal is to help the department navigate the unpredictable situation.
“I think what departments and faculty crave in moments of uncertainty is steadiness and reliability,” Floyd said. “Someone who can be a grounding and calming force. I hope to provide that.”
A key part of human development is to communicate and relate; to get our messages out and to understand messages from others and build relationships.
Kory Floyd
He also hopes to shine more light on the work of HD faculty. Social scientists often feel they don’t get much recognition compared to other scientific fields, Floyd said, and he wants to showcase their contributions.
His third goal is to foster a broad set of connections by boosting faculty collaboration with colleagues in other departments, colleges, and universities.
“I want to think big,” he said. “I see so many opportunities in this department that align with multiple intellectual partnerships. Building those partnerships will bolster our science and carry the department well into the future long after I’m gone.”
Floyd has significant administrative experience at the University of Arizona but has never served as a department chair before. He said he has a lot to learn about WSU and leading an academic unit. But he’s up for the challenge.
“I’m not afraid of difficult situations or hard work,” Floyd said. “I’m realistic about what I know and don’t know. I will need to learn quickly and make connections that help HD move forward. The department is well positioned to continue its strong, multi-disciplinary work, and I’m excited to be at WSU to do that work.”
