To our alumni and friends,

We have had an active and meaningful spring semester in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. In May, more than 250 students earned their undergraduate degrees. The spirits were high, and the arena was full. A week later, we celebrated the new location of the Prevention Research Center and other college centers at Alder Hall. The event, “An Afternoon at Alder Hall,” was a success, bringing together campus and community partners!

My primary goal as department head is to ensure students graduate with the skills and experiences needed for fulfilling careers and lifelong learning, and to do that, we must continuously improve our programs.

If you are a graduate of our HDFS or ECE bachelor’s degree, I need your help to achieve this vision. I want to better understand your professional experiences and the knowledge and skills you have used to be successful. I’d like to know what we are doing well in HDFS and how we can improve. Alumni voices are crucial. Your feedback and ideas help shape our education and culture. This survey is anonymous, and your responses will be kept confidential. Data will be reported in aggregate only and shared among our faculty and leadership. I appreciate your feedback and participation, and thank you for taking your valuable time to share your experiences by July 15. Take the survey now!

For department news, we are excited to add several new faculty and staff! In February, we welcomed Mitch Trebesh to the advising group as an academic success coordinator. Trebesh is joined by two more academic success coordinators who start this month, Haley Hasberger and Emma Reust. Our main office has also grown in the last month with the addition of Julia Nazar, graduate program and hourly HR coordinator.

For faculty, we have three incredible individuals starting with us this fall: Drs. Samantha Brown, Melissa Fenton, and Ana Gutierrez-Colina. Dr. Brown will hold a focus in child and family trauma. She comes to us from Colorado State University’s School of Social Work. Drs. Fenton and Gutierrez-Colina will focus on rural mental and behavioral health. Dr. Fenton comes to us from the University of Florida. Dr. Gutierrez-Colina has been working with the Adolescent Wellness Lab in our department as a research scientist and clinical psychologist. We are also thrilled that four of our current faculty were promoted: Aga Burzynska to associate professor with tenure, Ashley Harvey and Jen Krafchick to professor, and Julie Taylor-Massey to master instructor!

Yes, an active and meaningful semester indeed, and now that the spring semester is over, we look toward summer and fall, excited for what is in store!

Have a wonderful summer!