New research facility, formerly known as the Cypress Street Schoolhouse, set to open this month at Chapman University

ORANGE, Calif. – Chapman University, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Crean School of Health and Life Sciences, and The Orange Barrio Historical Society are hosting the grand opening of The Early Human and Lifespan Development Research Program. The new facility will be housed in the renovated and restored Cypress Street Schoolhouse, in Orange. The grand opening is March 19; media and the public are invited.

The Schoolhouse, built in 1928, is the last remaining historical segregated school in Southern California. Today, the Schoolhouse is equipped to support the nationally recognized research program which focuses on women and children. The state-of-the-art facility, which is undergoing LEED-certification, also will be the new home of the Orange Barrio Historical Society and a focal point for community meetings and education.

The Early Human and Lifespan Development Research Program is headed by Laura Glynn, Ph.D. Dr. Glynn and her collaborators conduct an interdisciplinary program of translational research that examines the interplay between biological, psychosocial and behavioral processes in human pregnancy and the influences of these processes on maternal and fetal/child development.

The program’s research in the realm of maternal-child health covers three main areas:
1. Understanding the underlying causes of premature birth, the most serious problem in maternal-child health and the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States.
2. Elucidating how pre- and postnatal hormone exposures influence women’s psychological health and cognitive function, and also more specifically the quality of maternal behavior and postpartum depression.
3. Determining the role of very early life influences in fetal, infant and child development.

“We are thrilled to have this special place near our campus for Dr. Glynn’s important research,” said Janeen Hill, dean, Schmid College of Science and Technology. “The fact that it will reside in a place with historic ties to children and that we are still connected with the Cypress Barrio Society makes it a perfect union.”

Originally, the School House provided education and healthcare to children of migrant workers, but in 1931 it became a segregated campus and remained so until 1944. The Orange Barrio Historical Society united to conserve this historic building and to record the contributions of the School and the community it served to the history of Orange.

The opening event will take place Tuesday, March 19, and will feature a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony with Chapman University President Doti, along with guided tours afterwards.

Event details are as follows:
March 19, 2013
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Cypress Street Schoolhouse
544 North Cypress
Orange, CA 92866
Please respond by Friday, March 15 to attend: (714) 289-2061

Consistently ranked among the top universities in the West, Chapman University provides a uniquely personalized and interdisciplinary educational experience to highly qualified students. Our programs encourage innovation, creativity and collaboration, and focus on developing global citizen-leaders who are distinctively prepared to improve their community and their world.

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Chapman University in Orange, California recently installed a 1.485 Gbps uncompressed HD-SDI connection to the Los Angeles Switch. Chapman’s fully renovated studio offers single and multi-camera studio services as well as post production. With its new Switch connection, Chapman is the only studio in Orange County offering uncompressed High Definition production and transmission.

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