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Dr. Wally's Biography

H. Wallace Goddard, is an Extension Family Life Specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. He develops programs on parenting, marriage, youth development, and family relations. He is also involved in writing books, web articles, producing television programs, and developing national Extension programs.

Goddard grew up in the mountains outside Salt Lake City, Utah. He had a pet squirrel, a pet skunk, a tree house, a rope swing, and a raft to navigate the local stream.

He earned degrees at Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah, in physics, math, and education before teaching high school. He taught a range of subjects including general science, filmmaking, folklore, gifted and talented, media and literature. He and his students created a 16mm film that won the Utah student film festival.

After teaching school for 12 years, he returned to college. This time he attended Utah State University, in Logan Utah, where he earned his doctorate in Family and Human Development. His dissertation research created and tested a new parenting program that applied discoveries in attribution research to parenting. His research established the merits of helping parents interpret their children in the most favorable light.

Goddard served as an Extension Specialist at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama for six years. During that time he studied teen behavior (surveyed 14,000 teens), developed a widely-used parenting program (Principles of Parenting), participated with a national team to develop a model of parent education (The National Extension Parent Education Model), and created a respected youth development program (The Great Self Mystery).

Goddard took leave from Auburn University to help Stephen Covey write "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families" and to develop application activities for improving family life. He also taught courses for Utah State University.

Goddard came to Arkansas in order to work again as an Extension Specialist, a work that he loves. "Extension work allows me to be involved in the best current research and to translate those discoveries into real life for Arkansans," says Dr. Goddard. He has worked with colleagues to develop a wealth of family resources that are posted on the University of Arkansas Extension web site. He also provides training to county Extension agents, speaks to public groups, and is working with AETN on a series of television programs entitled Guiding Children Successfully.

Goddard is also working with Alice Ginott, widow of Haim Ginott, to update Haim Ginott's classic parenting book "Between Parent and Child." Crown Publishers, Inc., plans to release the book in spring 2003. In addition to writing for popular web sites, he is also working on a textbook on family life education.

Goddard has many family experiences to draw on. He and his wife, Nancy, have three children and three grandchildren. Their daughter Emily Ogborn, 28, and her husband Chester, and son Shad live in Chattanooga, Tenn., where Chester is finishing his residency in pediatrics. Their son Andy, 26, and his with wife Natalie, and sons Max and Sam live in Utah where Andy is a freelance graphic designer. (Ask Wally sometime about his grandchildren's latest publicity pieces.) Sara, 22, is serving an 18-month church service mission in Paraguay.

Wally and Nancy have cared for 20 foster children between 1973 and 1986. They report that their experience with mostly troubled teens taught them advanced lessons in humility.

In their free time, the Goddards paint their house (which they love doing), build wood projects, work in the yard, volunteer in the community, and write.

Goddard travels extensively as an Extension representative and as a private consultant, appearing recently at conferences in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Dallas, and Columbus. Audiences appreciate his creative insights, practical recommendations, extensive knowledge, and energetic presentation.

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