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Parent and Family Programs

Parents play a vital role in the college experience. The Office of Parent and Family Programs partners with you to ensure your student's success at Miami. In addition to communicating your needs and concerns to the University administration, we are here to educate you about student development and appropriate ways to help your college student become an independent and involved citizen.

Apply for the Miami Family Fund

Miami students, faculty, and staff can request funding for a student organization or department initiative, undergraduate student experiences (study abroad, internships, etc.), or faculty-student discourse in an out-of-class setting.

Deadlines are available on the application. For individual grants, financial need is taken into account.

Learning Outcomes

As one of the 15 departments in the Division of Student Life, the Office of Parent and Family Programs works to engage all parents and families as vital partners in advancing the mission of Miami University to create citizen leaders. We value the experiences, perspectives, and wisdom of all families, and create connections that help families appropriately support student learning, transitions, and personal growth. Parents and family members of Miami University students will be able to do the following:

  • Enact strategies to foster interdependence and decision-making skills in their student.
  • Recognize developmental changes and stages experienced by young adults.
  • Convey to their student the value of engaging with people who hold different beliefs and have different backgrounds.
  • Identify the existence and purpose of campus resources.
  • Appropriately encourage their student to take advantage of available academic and co-curricular opportunities.
  • Articulate the purpose and importance of liberal education to the development of citizen leaders.

Meet Our Staff

Joe Hawkins, Director

Joe Hawkins portraitJoe Hawkins is passionate about working with the parents and families of our students and eagerly leads our efforts in partnering with families to best support Miami students. He has a bachelor of arts degree from Eastern Illinois University and a master of science in college student personnel and administration from the University of Central Arkansas. He is a current doctoral student in the educational leadership program at Miami.

Davis MacKelcan, Graduate Assistant

Davis MacKelcan portraitDavis MacKelcan joined the Parent and Family Programs staff in August 2022. Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Political Science from Bucknell University. Prior to working at Miami, Davis worked extensively with Bucknell’s New Student Orientation program. Davis is looking forward to promoting growth and leadership among new students and learning more about the field of student affairs. 

Contact Us

Parent and Family Programs
110 Warfield Hall
Oxford, OH 45056