HDFS Faculty

Education:

• Ph.D., Family and Human Development, Arizona State University
• M.S., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• B.A., Psychology, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX

Research/Scholarly Focus:

Dr. Alfaro’s research explores how family, cultural, and environmental factors shape the lives of adolescents and college students. Using ecological and academic resilience frameworks, she investigates the roles of parental support, sibling relationships, and cultural values in promoting student success. Her work often centers on Mexican-origin youth and emphasizes strengths-based approaches to understanding development in diverse contexts.

Courses Taught:

Dr. Alfaro teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Lifespan Development
• Latinx Youth and Families
• Families in Context
• Research Design and Methodology
• Advanced Theory

Research Profile: Google Scholar

Research Lab: Student Success Lab

Education:

• Ph.D., Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University
• M.S., Family and Human Development, Utah State University
• B.S., Speech Language Pathology, Brigham Young University

Research/Scholarly Focus:

Dr. Behnke’s research centers on the well-being of immigrant and ethnic minority youth and families, with a particular focus on Latino communities. His work evaluates evidence-based programs that promote college access, academic success, and family resilience. As co-developer of the nationally recognized Juntos Program, Dr. Behnke has led initiatives that support Latino youth in achieving educational goals. His scholarship also explores the roles of fathers, teen-parenting, domestic violence prevention, and community-based interventions, using strengths-based and ecological approaches to development.

Courses Taught:

Dr. Behnke teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Lifespan Development
• Administration of Human Service Organizations
• Program Evaluation
• Family Theories

Research Profile: Google Scholar

Research Lab: The Dating and Couple Relationships Lab

Education:

• Ph.D., Early Childhood Education/Curriculum and Instruction, The University of Texas at Austin
• M.A., Nutrition, The University of Texas at Austin
• B.S., Home Economics Education, The University of Texas at Austin

Research/Scholarly Focus:

Dr. Blunk has expertise in early childhood development, infant mental health, and the social-emotional well-being of young children and their families. Her research explores maternal separation anxiety, teacher-child relationships, and culturally responsive early education practices. She has led initiatives to support school readiness and family engagement.

Courses Taught:

Dr. Blunk teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Lifespan Development
• Child Development
• Family Theory
• Infant and Child Mental Health

Education:

• M.S., Family & Child Studies – Child Life Specialist Track, Texas State University
• B.A., Psychology, Texas A&M University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Mrs. Bush is a Certified Child Life Specialist whose work focuses on supporting the psychosocial and developmental needs of children and families in healthcare settings. With experience in emergency/trauma, perioperative services, and radiological care, she specializes in therapeutic interventions, medical preparation, and trauma-informed support. Her teaching and professional development efforts emphasize family and child-centered care, psychosocial assessments, communication strategies, and pediatric-friendly practices in clinical environments.

Courses Taught:

• Introduction to Child Life
• Lifespan Development

Education:

• M.A. Ed., Early Education, Goddard College
• B.A., Social and Behavioral Sciences, Minor in Child Development, University of Texas at Austin

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Ms. Campbell’s professional focus lies in early childhood education, adolescent development, and family support systems. With decades of experience in both higher education and community-based programming, she has developed and led initiatives supporting pregnant and parenting teens, promoted school readiness, and enhanced early childhood program quality. 

Courses Taught:

• Family Relationships
• Lifespan Development
• Adolescent Development
• Administration of Programs for Young Children

Education:

• M.Ed., Elementary Education, Minor in Special Education, Texas State University
• B.A., Psychology, Minor in Family and Child Development, Texas State University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Ms. Crawford’s work centers on early childhood education, family engagement, and culturally responsive teaching. With extensive experience in higher education and community-based initiatives, she specializes in infant mental health, family relationships, and professional development for educators. 

Courses Taught:

• Family Relationships
• Infant Child Mental Health

Education:

• Ph.D., Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri
• M.S., Development and Family Studies, University of North Texas
• B.A., Psychology; Sociology and Anthropology, Alma College

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Dr. Dier’s research explores the intersections of child development, family dynamics, and pediatric healthcare experiences. Her work focuses on medical play, parent-child communication, and the psychosocial well-being of children with chronic health conditions, emphasizing the role of play, narrative, and emotional regulation in promoting resilience. With a background as a Certified Child Life Specialist, Dr. Dier brings a unique applied perspective to her research, which aims to strengthen the evidence base for the child life profession.

Courses Taught:
Dr. Dier teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Play and Child Development
• Issues in Human Development and Family Sciences

Research Profile: Google Scholar

Research Lab: Research on Coping and Play Lab

Education:

• M.Ed., University of Texas at Austin
• B.S., Early Childhood & Family Relationships, University of Texas at Austin

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Ms. Fitchpatrick is a Certified Child Life Specialist whose work centers on pediatric psychosocial care, grief and bereavement, therapeutic play, and professional training in child life. With over 32 years of experience in hospital and academic settings, she is passionate about preparing future child life professionals through practicum and internship supervision, program development, and community engagement. Her scholarly contributions include research on Latino adolescents surviving cancer and therapeutic activity design for pediatric care.

Courses Taught:
Cynthia teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Intro to Child Life 
• Pain & Anxiety
• Foundations of Play
• Grief & Bereavement

Education:

• Ph.D., Family and Human Development, Arizona State University
• M.S., Family and Human Development, Arizona State University
• B.S., Early Childhood Education and Exceptional Needs, Purdue University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Dr. Goble’s research and teaching center on strengthening the work of educators, child life specialists, and other professionals serving children and families, with a particular focus on fostering the well-being of both these professionals and the children and families they support.

Courses Taught:
Dr. Goble teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Principles of Guidance
• Child Development
• Foundations of Play
• Pain and Anxiety

Research Profile: Google Scholar

Research Lab: CARE Lab

Education:

• Ph.D., Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
• M.A., Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
• B.A., Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Dr. Gray’s research explores the development of trust, commitment, and relationship dynamics in romantic partnerships, with a focus on premarital and cohabiting couples. Her work integrates personality, attachment, and communication frameworks to understand how individuals navigate intimacy, conflict, and long-term commitment. 

Courses Taught:
Dr. Gray teaches a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses in Human Development and Family Sciences, including:

• Introduction to Family Relationships
• Contemporary Families
• Advanced Theories in HDFS
• Issues in HDFS

Education:

• M.S., Family & Child Studies – Child Life Specialist Track, Texas State University
• B.S., Psychology, The University of Oklahoma

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Ms. Hernandez is a Certified Child Life Specialist and Lecturer whose work focuses on supporting the emotional and developmental needs of children and families in healthcare settings. Her professional interests include medical play and trauma-informed care. She has contributed to behavioral health programming and is passionate about preparing future child life professionals through education and mentorship.

Courses Taught:
Lifespan Development

Education:

• Ph.D., Child Development and Family Relationships, The University of Texas at Austin
• M.A., Child Development and Family Relationships, The University of Texas at Austin
• B.A., Registered Nursing, Corpus Christi State University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Dr. Morgan’s work focuses on early childhood development, family life education, program administration, and attachment. Her publications explore family life education, early childhood, and attachment. She has contributed to both academic and practitioner-focused literature.

Courses Taught:
Dr. Morgan teaches a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Lifespan Development
• Program Administration and Evaluation

Education:

• M.S., Human Development & Family Sciences – Child Life, Texas State University
• B.A., Psychology, Texas State University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Kaitlyn Schenk is a Certified Child Life Specialist and Lecturer with clinical experience in emergency, trauma, oncology, NICU, labor and delivery, women's services, and behavioral health settings. Schenk previously worked at CHRISTUS Children's, however, she now operates as a one-person program at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) working with military children and families. Her interests include trauma-informed care, grief and bereavement, and supporting neurodiverse and behavioral health pediatric patients. She is passionate about educating future child life professionals and has published on Child Life Specialist's perceptions of managing challenging behaviors in autistic pediatric patients. She was awarded Children's Miracle Network Hospital's Child Life Specialist of the Year in 2023.

Courses Taught:

• Lifespan Development
• Introduction to Child Life

Education:

• Ph.D., Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin
• M.Ed., Quantitative Methods, The University of Texas at Austin
• M.A., Educational Foundations, Seoul National University
• B.A., Education and Philosophy, Seoul National University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Dr. Seo’s research examines motivation, mindset, and well-being across diverse student populations. Her work integrates experimental, longitudinal, and intensive diary methods to investigate how students’ beliefs and social environments shape learning and development.

Courses Taught:

• Statistics and Data Analysis for Human Development and Family Sciences
• Research Procedures in Family & Consumer Sciences

Research Profile: Google Scholar

Research Lab: SEO Lab

Education:

• Ph.D., Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
• M.A., Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
• B.S., Psychology and Space Physics, Peking University, China

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Dr. Yishan Shen’s research focuses on adolescent development in immigrant and ethnic minority families, with particular attention to language brokering, ethnic-racial identity, discrimination, and mental health. Her work integrates longitudinal and cross-cultural methods to explore how family, cultural, and contextual factors shape youth adjustment and academic outcomes. 

Courses Taught:
Dr. Shen teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Adolescent Development
• Advanced Cultural Diversity
• Research Design and Methods

Research Profile: Google Scholar

Research Lab: ARC Lab

Education:

• M.A., Sociology, Texas State University
• B.A., Anthropology and Sociology, Valdosta State University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Ms. Titus’ work spans family diversity, community advocacy, and social justice. As a sociologist, she integrates applied and interdisciplinary approaches into her teaching. Her scholarship includes research and presentations on human welfare, aging, and advocacy. 

Courses Taught:

• Child Development
• Adolescent Development
• Cultural Diversity of Families
• Research Methods

Education:

• M.A., Special Education – Preschool Special Needs, Marshall University
• B.S., Early Childhood Education, Marshall University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Mrs. Weber is a Lecturer and Preschool/Pre-K Coordinator at the Texas State Child Development Center. With over a decade of experience in early childhood education, her work focuses on inclusive practices, developmental guidance, and teacher training. She is committed to fostering high-quality learning environments for young children and mentoring future educators.

Courses Taught:

• Principles of Guidance

Education:

• Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, Arizona State University
• M.S., Experimental Psychology, Idaho State University
• B.S., Psychology, Northern Arizona University

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Dr. Weimer studies how sociocultural, linguistic, and family background factors relate to cognitive and educational outcomes. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary projects that support overall positive developmental outcomes for children, adolescents, and college students. 

Courses Taught:
Dr. Weimer teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including:

• Lifespan Development
• Research Procedures in Family & Consumer Sciences

Research Profile: Google Scholar

Research Lab: Research in Social Cognitive Development Lab

Education:

• M.A., Interdisciplinary Studies: Organization, Workforce, Leadership, Texas State University
• B.A., Applied Behavioral Science: Early Childhood Education and Intervention, University of Kansas

Research/Scholarly Focus:
Mrs. Williams is a Lecturer and Infant/Toddler Coordinator at the Texas State Child Development Center. With over 15 years of experience in early childhood education, her work emphasizes curriculum development, infant and toddler care, and professional training in early learning environments. She is committed to fostering creative experiences for young children and mentoring future educators.

Courses Taught:

• Creative Experiences for Young Children