She is the founder and dean emeritus of the Family Center at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
She established a doctoral program in early childhood education in 1972 and founded the Family Center in 1975.
In 2002 it was renamed the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies.
She is chair emeritus of the A. L. Mailman Family Foundation (named after her father) and is a trustee of the University of Miami.
[1] A family gift of Old Master paintings to Duke University has been named in her honor.