New Leadership for HDFS and OT Departments

Human Development & Family Studies and Occupational Therapy recently named new department chairs.

Associate Professor Kimberly Nesbitt was named chair of Human Development & Family Studies, effective May 19, 2025.

Nesbitt’s research examines early childhood cognitive development, with a focus on identifying instructional practices that help young children from diverse backgrounds succeed in educational settings. She has taught at UNH since 2015.

Nesbitt has led large-scale, longitudinal studies supported by federal and foundation funding, often through multidisciplinary, research-practice partnerships. Her expertise includes advanced quantitative analysis and both field-based and experimental methodologies.

Through her teaching and outreach, Nesbitt supports early childhood educators via preservice and in-service professional development. She is committed to enhancing early education quality through collaboration with schools, community organizations, and state agencies.

Nesbitt received a B.A. in Psychology and Human Development and Family Life from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. in Lifespan Developmental Psychology from North Carolina State University. Before coming to UNH she was an Institute of Education Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow at Vanderbilt University.

Associate Professor Vidya Sundar was named chair of Occupational Therapy, effective May 19th, 2025.  

Sundar teaches inter-disciplinary coursework related to inclusive workplace practices, psychosocial evaluation and intervention, and research methods.  

Sundar has over 18 years of experience in disability and employment research. Her current research focuses on intervention programs for career development and advancement for individuals with disabilities. She is the principal investigator of a 5-year, $2.5 million grant from the Administration of Community Living on Living and Working with disabilities and Long COVID.  

Sundar was the recipient of the CHHS Outstanding New Investigator Award in 2018 and the Excellence in Collaboration Award in 2017. Her research has been funded by federal agencies and private foundations such as the Administration on Community Living, Administration on Aging, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, Social Security Administration, and Kessler Foundation.

She received her PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University at Buffalo.