Name: Candy Beers
Program of Study: Family Science
Degrees: Bachelor’s in Psychology (The Pennsylvania State University); Master’s in dance/movement psychotherapy (Pratt Institute)
Research Interests: shame and social conformity; mothering towards social justice; feminist mothering; nonverbal interpersonal interactions and early socialization
Advisor: Dr. Few-Demo
Assistantships: Graduate Teaching Assistant for Field Study; Facilitator of Neighbors Growing Together Intergenerational Program; Instructor for HD 1004 Other projects and activities: HDFSGSA secretary; research teams with Dr. Bradburn (gestures in early learning) and Jo Culligan (music therapy and dementia) Birthday: November 27
Name: Jamie Maria Dellinger
Program of Study: Marriage and Family Therapy
Degrees: Bachelor’s in Psychology and English; Master’s in Family Therapy
Research Interests: While using attachment-informed approaches, and staying attentive to cultural issues, I aim to create an affirming environment for my clients to process their therapeutic narrative. I am interested in the social construction of gender and how it affects LGBTQI+ individuals and their families.
Advisor: Dr. Russon
Assistantships: Graduate Teaching Assistant for Human Sexuality (Supervisor: Victoria Lael), Research Assistant for the ASPIRE project (Supervisor: Dr. Russon)
Birthday: February 24th
Name: KP Puckett
Program of Study: Marriage and Family Therapy
Degrees: B.A. in Psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University; M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University
Research Interests: chosen family and social support networks for LGBTQ+ individuals, with specific focus on gender nonbinary individuals, LGBTQ+ folks’ access and utilization of therapy services
Advisor: Dr. Grafsky
Assistantships: Graduate Instructor of Record for Human Sexuality (Supervisor: Victoria Lael), Graduate Research Assistant (Supervisor: Dr. Grafsky)
Birthday: August 3rd
Name: Krista Hein
Program of Study: Marriage and Family Therapy
Degrees: B.A. in Family Science and Writing from Anderson University; M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University
Research Interests: Adolescent identity development, romantic relationships, Type 1 Diabetes and illness identity, therapy with adolescents
Advisor: Dr. Dolbin-MacNab
Assistantships: Graduate Teaching Apprentice for Human Development I: Childhood and Adolescence, Research Assistant (Supervisor: Dr. Wesche)
Birthday: August 20th
Name: Meredith Atanasio
Area: Child and Adolescent Development
Degrees: B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State
Research Interests: Mental health and coparenting of paternal figures
Advisor: Dr. Smith
Assistantships: Graduate Assistant to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (Supervisor: Victoria Lael), Research Assistant in the Children’s Emotions Lab (Supervisor: Dr. Smith)
Birthday: May 4th
Name: Siwan Ju
Program of Study: Marriage and Family Therapy
Degrees: B.A. in Sociology from Yonsei University; M.A. in Christian Studies from Soongsil University; M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Research Interests: Spirituality in couples therapy, sex therapy, training experiences of international students in Marriage and Family Therapy
Advisor: Dr. Dolbin-MacNab
Assistantships: Graduate Teaching Apprentice for Family Relationships (Supervisor: Dr. Grafsky), Research Assistant (Supervisor: Dr. Dolbin-MacNab
Birthday: February 25th
Name: Shawnice A. Johnson
Program of Study: Family Science
Degrees: B.A. Psychology, Human Development and Family Science, Minor; M.S. Human Development and Family Science, East Carolina University
Research Interests: Gendered Racial Socialization processes (particularly with AA girls), African American Families, Parent-Child interactions.
Advisors: Dr. Joyce Arditti
Assistantships: Graduate Research Assistant to Dr. Bradburn (Project Leader of Gesture and Learning Study); Graduate Instructor of Record- HD 1004: Human Development I: Childhood and Adolescence.
Birthday: August 15
Name: Shuqi Yu
Program of Study: Child and Adolescent Development
Degrees: B.S. in Psychology from Beijing Normal University
Research Interests: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Advisor: Dr. Shivers
Assistantships: Graduate Teaching Assistant for Infancy and Early Childhood Development; Facilitator of Neighbors Growing Together Intergenerational Program; Research Assistant (Supervisor: Dr. Shivers) Awards: Serving Spirit Graduate Fellowship. The award is aimed to help graduate students who are interested in helping understand and treat Autism Spectrum Disorder. Birthday: April 30th