Dr. Ken Canfield is a nationally known leader and scholar who has committed his life to strengthening fathers, families, and grandparents. He founded the National Center for Fathering (www.fathers.com) and the National Association for Grandparenting and has been in involved in many other non-profits during his career.

Dr. Canfield has served as a consultant to media, national, state and community leaders—often in partnership with his wife, Dee. Ken has testified to the National Commission of Children (1990), served as a founding member of the Father to Father Initiative (1995-2000) and the National Fatherhood Leaders Group (2002-2006). He has been recognized for his leadership and was awarded the Father of the Year (1993) by the National Congress for Men and Children, the Most Outstanding Alumnus Award (2006) from his alma mater, Friends University, and the Polish Presidential Medal of Honor (2007).

Dr. Canfield has keynoted and presented at dozens of state and community conferences including in California, Florida, Indiana and Kansas. In addition, he has taught his “7 Secrets of Effective Fathers” two-day conference to over 125,000 fathers in a variety of community centers as well as military and faith-based settings.

He is the author of numerous articles, both popular and scientific. His work has appeared in Psychological Reports, Educational and Psychological Measurements, The World and I, Parents, Today’s Better Life, Living with Children and New Man. He is the author of twelve books, including The 7 Secrets of Effective Fathers, The Heart of a Father, The Adventures of Fatherhood Series, and They Call Me Dad, as well as several book chapters in collaborative texts.

Besides publishing, Canfield has been heard on a daily weekday radio commentary, Today’s Father, which he began in 1993 and aired on over 600 stations nationwide. His most recent radio program, Grands Matter, focuses on the important role grandparents fulfill in the family. He has been interviewed on The Oprah Winfrey Show (twice), NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s World News Tonight, Focus on the Family, 700 Club, and numerous other radio and television programs.

In 2016 he founded the National Association for Grandparenting, (www.grandkidsmatter.org), focusing on the role of grandfathers. His book, The H.E.A.R.T of Grandparenting, was published in the fall of 2018.

Dr. Canfield believes that fathers and grandparents are untapped resources and needed additions to strengthen the American family. “With complex family issues and life opportunities all fathers and grandparents must wrestle with the questions: ‘What is my purpose, and how am I fulfilling it in my family—emotionally, relationally and spiritually?’”

Dr. Canfield has 5 adult children (three daughters and two sons), three sons-in-law, one daughter in-law and twelve grandchildren.