PSiX hires its first managing director - meet Kim Kopko

The Purpose Science and Innovation Exchange (PSiX) has appointed Kim Kopko as its first managing director. In this role, Kopko will be responsible for PSiX’s day-to-day operations and shape PSiX’s vision, strategy, business model, strategic initiatives, and partnerships. Kopko assumed the role on August 1, 2025.

“We are ecstatic to have Kim join us in this role,” said Anthony Burrow, PSiX director. “The expertise and experience Kim has will be immensely beneficial as PSiX continues to grow.”

Kopko is the director of The Parenting Project: Healthy Children, Families & Communities, which, like PSiX, is housed in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell Human Ecology. The Parenting Project supports parent educators across the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) system by offering research-based resources that strengthen their work with parents and families. The project also conducts evaluations of CCE parent education programs across New York State and community assessments to help counties identify and address local parenting education needs. Kopko will continue to direct the project.

Kopko received her Ph.D. in child development from Cornell. Her research interests are in parenting and youth development, parental beliefs and child learning, and developing portable parenting models. Kopko has been a sought-after expert on the topics of cell phone use in schools, youth social media use, and the importance of play for young children.

I am excited to join PSiX as managing director and to be part of a vibrant and energetic team helping to spearhead this innovative work on the research and application of purpose science.”