Prof. David Purpura

Speaker's Biography

Dr. Purpura is a professor of Human Development and Family Science at Purdue University. He is also the director of the Center for Early Learning which is a research, practice, and policy center focused on enhancing successful learning opportunities for children birth-8. His research focuses broadly on promoting school readiness with a particular emphasis on early math learning, interventions, and the home environment. He has over 100 publications in this area and has been awarded >$12 million USD in research funds as PI by federal, state, and foundation sources. Additionally, he is a recent recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2025).

Title of Keynote

Development of early math interventions across populations and contexts: Successes and "redirected opportunities"

Abstract of Keynote

Dr. Purpura will share findings from a series of intervention studies designed to promote preschool children's early math skills. He will share the development process across individualized home settings, small group classroom settings, and whole classroom designs. Specifically, he will highlight how to utilize an inclusive design approach that supports intervention use across unique settings and populations and how to learn from both the successful interventions and those that don't produce the expected effects.