HDFS Communicator, Fall 2011 - Human Development and Family ...

HDFS
Department of Human Development & Family Studies
Communicator
Fall 2011
www.familystudies.uconn.edu
Photo by Lainie Hiller

Human Development & Family Studies Administration -
Department Head, Professor Ronald M. Sabatelli
Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies, Professor JoAnn Robinson
Associate Department Head for Undergraduate Studies, Associate Professor Shannon E. Weaver
HDFS Communicator
Fall 2011
Table of Contents
Faculty Updates
Selected Presentations & Publications
Editors
Lainie Hiller
Layout & Design
Janice Berriault
News from our Centers & Programs
Announcements
Spotlight on Students
Alumni News
University of Connecticut
Department of Human Development & Family Studies
348 Mansfield Road, Unit 2058
Storrs, CT 06269-2058
Phone: 860.486.4720
FAX: 860.486.3452
www.familystudies.uconn.edu

Faculty Updates
Professor Stephen Anderson recieved a
grant in the amount of $144,000. Steve’s
project is entitled, “Evaluation of School
Attendance and School/Police Projects”.
Under the auspices of the Holster
Scholars Program, HDFS Assistant
Professor Keith Bellizzi has been asked
to mentor Ye Sun, a freshman student in
the Allied Health Program. The Holster
Scholars program is a highly selective
enrichment opportunity for first-year honors
students. Inspired by Robert Holster’s
own excitement in discovering new paths
of learning as an honors student at UConn, the program
supports a small number of highly motivated students who
wish to complete an independent project in the summer
following their freshman year. Because freshmen are often
ineligible for other forms of independent learning and funding
for research, the Holster Scholars program seeks to
encourage and develop the energy and curiosity of first-year
students and afford them the resources to enact their own
discoveries and pursue their passions beyond the classroom.
Thanks Keith for your contribution to the UConn learning
community!
Professor Thomas Blank has been
elected to be on the Board of Trustees of
the Connecticut Cancer Partnership, and
to serve as co-chair of the Education
Committee. Two of Tom’s students,
Courtney Beyers and Nicole O’Connor,
have worked with him to provide
educational materials for the Partnership.
The CT Cancer Partnership is a coalition of
over 200 agencies, hospitals, academic units, and individuals
in the state whose task it is to provide input on and implement
the State’s Cancer Plan.
Associate Professor Anne Farrell
continues to receive funding for her role as
core faculty of the A.J. Pappanikou Center
for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
(UConn UCEDD). Anne additionally
developed and conducted funded training
($17,000) on the inclusion of young children
with disabilities in early childhood
programs. She is currently serving on the
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council
and chairs the Stamford (CT) School Readiness Council,
Education Subcommittee.
Professor Madalynn Reu and HDFS
Professor JoAnn Robinson’s paper,
entitled “Maternal holding of preterm infants
during the early weeks after birth and dyad
interaction at six months”, has been
selected the best paper published in the
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, &
Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN) in 2010. The
award was presented to the authors at the
June convention of the Association of Women’s Health
Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses in Denver, CO. This is
JOGNN’s premier award and is financially sponsored by the
journal’s publisher, Wiley-Blackwell.
The paper was chosen by the members of JOGNN’s
Editorial Advisory Board from among six papers nominated by
the editor. Criteria for the award include originality of the work,
clarity and scholarliness of the writing, potential to significantly
affect the care of women, infants and/or childbearing families,
and the interdisciplinary importance of the work.
Congratulations JoAnn for your significant contribution to
JOGNN’s excellence and for this distinguished award!
Assistant Professor Rachel Tambling
was awarded a Faculty Large Grant in the
amount of $20,252. Rachel’s project is
entitled, “Expectations about Couple
Therapy”.
Congratulations to Preston Britner who
was promoted to the rank of full Professor!
Associate Professor Shannon E. Weaver
was awarded a Faculty Large Grant in the
amount of $55,000.

HDFS Research Project Chosen for Special Funding
In consultation with the Honors Program, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) selected the inaugural project to be funded
by the Bennett Fund for Innovative Education in Health and Society. Proposed by HDFS faculty Edna Brown, Marysol Asencio,
Keith Bellizzi, Thomas Blank, Anita Garey, and Nancy Sheehan, the project is entitled “HDFS Educational Program in Research
on Social Aspects of Health.”
The proposers will create a bi-weekly seminar for a group of upper-level undergraduate students that focuses on theoretical,
methodological, and analytical issues in conducting health-related research from the beginning of the research endeavor to the
dissemination stage. The students will then participate in one of a cluster of health related research projects including The Latino
Prostate Cancer and Health Disparities Project; the Health and Aging Risk and Resilience project; the National Health Interview
Survey; the Children’s Well-being in South Africa project; and the Social Disparities in Adolescent Well-being project. The students
who participate in this work will present their research in HDFS 1000 and 2000 level courses.
Congratulations to Edna Brown and her collaborators. Thanks to Alan Bennett’s generous support, CLAS will continue this
competition next year.
Selected Presentations
Ruan, C.C. & Anderson, S.A. (2011, April). Marital therapy evaluation Questionnaire (MTEQ): Scale development and preliminary
reliability and validity. Poster presented at the Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Annual Conference,
Cromwell, CT.
Britner, P. A. (2011, April). Diversion from state legal systems to community-based interventions: Connecticut’s Families With
Service Needs (FWSN) model, outcomes, and implications. Invited talk delivered as part of the Social Policy Lecture Series at the
Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Britner, P. A. (2011, March). Community-university engagement through participatory action research. Invited discussant and panel
facilitator for the University of Connecticut Provost’s Commission on Public Engagement Spring Symposium, West Hartford, CT.
Curran, K. (2011, April). Where’s the Money in Marriage Therapy? Poster presented at the
Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Annual Conference, Cromwell, CT.
Goodrich, S., Britner, P. A., & Farrell, A. F. (2011, April). Connecting Children and Families:
An in-depth look at the experiences of professional foster parents. Invited talk delivered to staff
and state partners of The Connection, Inc., Middletown, CT.
Green, H. D., & Rigazio-DiGilio, S. (2011, April). Factors that Influence HBU Students’
Decisions to Pursue MFT Degrees. Poster presented at the Connecticut Association for
Marriage and Family Therapy Annual Conference, Cromwell, CT.
Khaleque, A., Rohner, R. P. (2011, February) What happens when you feel like everyone rejects you? Presented at the 40 th Annual
Meeting of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, Charleston, SC.
Moore, L., Thurston, K., & Tambling, R. (2011, April). Literature Review of Cultural Barriers
Effect on Motivation in Therapy. Poster presented at the Connecticut Association for Marriage
and Family Therapy Annual Conference, Cromwell, CT.
Reckert, A., Froude, C., Gürmen, S., & Tambling, R. (2011, April). Using Skype as a
Treatment Modality in Marriage and Family Therapy: Implications for Clinical Practice. Poster
presented at the Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Annual Conference,
Cromwell, CT.
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Popp, J. M., Robinson, J. L., Britner, P. A., & Thurston, K. (2011, April). Parent and child narratives as a representation of
individual and family functioning in a sample of children with chronic illness. Poster presented at the biennial meetings of the
Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Rua, S., Humphrey, C., & Rigazio-DiGilio, S. (2011, April). Spanish Speaking Populations in
Family Therapy. Poster presented at the Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy Annual Conference, Cromwell, CT.
Smolskis, K., Anderson, S.A., Anderson, S.R., Trachtenberg, J., Magnet, J., & Muska, C.
(2011, April). Risk factors in intimate partner violence. Poster presented at the Connecticut
Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Annual Conference, Cromwell, CT
...and Publications
Anderson, S.R., Anderson, S.A., Palmer, K.L., Mutchler, M.M. & Baker, L.K. (2011). Defining High Conflict. American
Journal of Family Therapy, 39, 11-27.
Britner, P. A. (2011). Editorial—Psychology and efforts to divert children and youth from state legal systems. Children, Youth,
and Families News (American Psychological Association), Winter, 1-2. [http://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/newsletter/
2011/winter.pdf ]
Garey, Anita I., & Hansen, Karen V. (2011). At the heart of work and family: Engaging the ideas of Arlie
Hochschild. NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Goodrich, S., Britner, P. A., & Farrell, A. F. (2011). Connecting Children and Families: An in-depth look
at the experiences of professional foster parents. Technical report prepared for The Connection, Inc.,
Middletown, CT.
Harkness, S., Super, C.M., & Mavridis, C.J. (2011). Parental ethnotheories about children’s
socioemotional development. In X. Chen & K.H. Rubin (Eds.), Socioemotional development in cultural
context (pp. 73-98). New York: The Guilford Press.
Johnson, S. K., Goldman, J. A., Garey, A. I., Britner, P. A., & Weaver, S. E. (2011). Emerging adults’ identity exploration:
Illustrations from inside the “camp bubble.” Journal of Adolescent Research, 26(2), 258-295.
Khaleque, A., Rohner, R. P., & Rahman, T. (2011). Perceived parental acceptance, behavioral control, and psychological
adjustment of children in Bangladesh and the United States. In E. Kourkoutas & F. Erkman (Eds.), Interpersonal acceptance and
rejection: Social, emotional, and educational contexts (pp. 51-58). Boca Raton: Brown Walker Press.
Khaleque, A. (2011). Biculturalism and parental acceptance and rejection. Interpersonal Acceptance, 5(2), 1-3.
Gomez, R., & Rohner, R. P. (2011). Tests of factor structure and measurement invariance in the U.S. and Australia using the
adult version of the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire. Cross-cultural Research, 45, 267-28.
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News from our
Centers & Programs
The Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD)
The Center has been actively engaged in several evaluation projects with state and non-profit agencies. This includes an
evaluation of after school programs for the State Department of Education, an evaluation project with the Office of Policy and
Management (OPM) that is examining effective strategies for improving student attendance in Connecticut’s middle schools and
high schools, a second project with OPM that is studying ways to reduce in-school juvenile arrests, and a project with the
Connecticut Department of Health that involves evaluation of a sex education program for adolescents. We recently completed
a project with the Connecticut Judicial Branch that offered assistance to the courts in updating their data collection and coding
system for tracking disproportionate minority contact (DMC). Additional information about these and other completed projects
is available on the Center’s website, which can be accessed at: http://www.appliedresearch.uconn.edu/.
The Center will again support five doctoral research assistants in the coming academic year: Brandyn McKinley, Sara
Johnson, Julie Griggs, Hannah Mudrick, and Samantha Goodrich. We also have a number of faculty who serve as
research associates and are engaged in projects through the Center. This includes Ron Sabatelli (senior research associate),
Preston Britner, Anne Farrell, JoAnn Robinson, and Shayne Anderson. The Center’s outreach mission to the State and
non-profit agencies is greatly enhanced by these individuals.
The Center for the Study of Culture, Health, and Human Development (CHHD)
CHHD 2011 Spring Colloquium Series wrapped up with Super and Mavridis’ presentation on
Parent Education in Diverse Cultural Contexts. Thursday, April 28 th marked the final spring
2011 CHHD Colloquium presentation. Professor Charles Super (HDFS and Pediatrics)
and CHHD Post-doctoral Fellow Caroline Mavridis talked about their research on parent
education and its effects on children and families in Bangladesh, Colombia, and
Connecticut. The programs were diverse, including child health, nutrition and cognitive
development, as well as prevention of child abuse, as the focus of intervention. A common
feature of the programs, however, was home visiting to help mothers and other caretakers
improve their children’s environment for healthy development.
Earlier colloquia in this year’s series, supported by a grant from the UConn
Department of Pediatrics, also focused on the health and education of children and families
in diverse contexts. Professor James Georgas (University of Athens, Greece) gave a presentation, co-sponsored by HDFS, on
his 30-nation study of similarities and differences in families across cultures. Saskia van Schaik, M.A., of Utrecht University
(the Netherlands) spoke about her research on how having culturally diverse daycare providers (from Morocco, Turkey, and the
Caribbean) working alongside native Dutch caregivers influenced children’s group processes in center-based daycare in
Amsterdam. Professor Martha Julia Garcia Sellers, of Tufts University, gave a presentation on her research and intervention
projects with Hispanic immigrant children and their families, and the children’s teachers, in the Boston area and in Antigua,
Guatemala.
For more information on the Spring 2011 CHHD Colloquium series, please visit the CHHD’s newly reconstructed website
chhd.uconn.edu.
CHHD Co-Directors Sara Harkness and Charles Super participated in the Bellagio Conference sponsored by the Society for
Research in Child Development and UNICEF. The week-long working conference Fulfilling Every Child’s Potential: How
Research Can Inform Global Policy was held in late February at the Rockefeller Center in Bellagio, Italy. Professor Harkness
gave the lead presentation on “What is ECD? Integrating developmental, cultural, and ECD agendas.” Professor Super was
co-organizer of the conference and associated project with Dr. Pia Britto (Yale University) and Professor Patrice Engle
(California Polytechnic University). Additional support for the project was provided by a grant to the CHHD from the Mohammed
Farsi Foundation. The conference is expected to lead to the publication of a handbook early next year.
CHHD researchers and international colleagues presented symposia and posters at the meeting of the Society for Research in
Child Development. In late March, members of the CHHD and their international colleagues met in Montreal to present several
symposia and posters. Professor Sara Harkness and Professor Paul Leseman (Utrecht University, the Netherlands) were coorganizers
of a symposium on Applications of Cross-cultural Research to the Care and Education of Children. The symposium
papers were presented by Professor Charles Super, Xin Feng (CHHD and HDFS alumna and now assistant professor of HDFS
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at Ohio State University), Dr. Sanne Huibregts of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, and Saskia van Schaik of Leiden University.
Caroline Mavridis presented a paper in a symposium entitled The child as learner: The role of parents in intergenerational
transmission of cultural models, organized by Professors Jin Li (Brown University) and Florrie Ng (University of Hong Kong).
Professor Sara Harkness was the discussant. Mary Sutherland, CHHD Graduate Certificate recipient and doctoral candidate in
HDFS, presented two posters on her research on infant reactivity and self-regulation, entitled “The Relationship Between Reactivity
and Regulation Behaviors: Change Over Time Within a Stressful Event at 2 and 6 Months” and ”Reactivity and Regulation: Evidence
for More Than One Pattern of Development.” Professor Charles Super participated in a roundtable discussion on “Bridging the
gap: Academic and international development communities discuss mutually beneficial evidence.” As chairman of SRCD’s
International Committee, Professor Super also hosted the International Reception at SRCD.
For further information on the SRCD presentations, including titles and a complete list of authors and abstracts, please visit
chhd.uconn.edu.
The Connecticut Children’s Trust Fund and CHHD work together to promote children’s healthy
development. “A Society without Child Abuse… Getting There: A roundtable discussion of
experts and legislators” was held in the Old Judiciary Room at the Capitol Building in Hartford
on April 13 th . Professors Sara Harkness and Charles Super were members of the panel
(pictured left), which was sponsored by the Connecticut Children’s Trust Fund and moderated
by Richard Sugarman of the Connecticut Forum. On the same morning, supporters of the
Nurturing Families Network program conferred with legislators to save the New Haven and
Hartford programs (which had been cut in the Governor’s budget but are now restored in the
compromise going to the Legislature for a final vote). Research by members of the CHHD and
the University of Hartford, including CHHD and HDFS graduate Marcia Hughes, has contributed
to the evidence base for the NFN program.
CHHD Postdoctoral fellow Caroline Mavridis, who is supported by a grant from the Children’s Trust Fund, gave a
presentation in Killingly, CT on April 6 th, on “Taking care of baby…and me: Maternal self-care and well-being,” as part of “Connecting
Families to Community Services,” in the Help Me Grow training series administered by the Children’s Trust Fund. CHHD affiliate
Eleni Fatsis gave a talk on the Family Development Credential frontline workers’ training series. Both Caroline and Eleni received
their certification to become Family Development Credential facilitators for the state of Connecticut. They are actively co-facilitating
courses for agency leaders and frontline workers. The CHHD is now the national headquarters for the Family Development
Credential program, under the direction of Dr. Claire Forest, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UConn.
In other news from CHHD… The Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities offers an advanced Certificate in International
Applied Behavioral Sciences. In early April, at the invitation of Professor Olaf Zylicz , Professors Sara Harkness and Charles
Super made guest presentations for that program on “The development niche and parental ethnotheories: theory and research,” and
“Using the developmental niche to design more effective interventions.”
The University of Connecticut’s Office of International Affairs recently announced the formal signing of an Agreement of
Cooperation and Collaboration with the University of Padua, Italy. This document is effectively an extension of the original
agreement signed in 2004 through the School of Family Studies, now expanded to include programs in Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering. Professors Sara Harkness and Charles Super visited Padua in April, continuing their ongoing research collaborations
with Professors Ughetta Moscardino and Sabrina Bonichini of the Department of Developmental and Social Psychology.
CHHD Undergraduate research assistant Jia Li Liu is now (’10) working with Dr. Jin Li in the education department of Brown
University. Nora Patumanon (’10) is now employed as a nutritionist for WIC in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Felicia Bartolomeo, a
senior, was recently accepted to the master’s degree program in occupational therapy at Sacred Heart University. Nice work!
The Child Development Laboratories (CDL)
Child Labs staff, HDFS Early Childhood faculty members and Department Head Ron Sabatelli had the great pleasure of a visit from
the first CDL Director, Dr. Sandy Kronsberg, and former Assistant Director, Chrissie Laddon, on March 30 th . Both Sandy and
Chrissie helped to establish the Child Labs which opened in January 1976. At the time it was run separately from what was the long
established nursery school program for training teachers. It was great fun to hear their reminiscences of the history and running of
the program, which included a tuition rate of 55 cents per hour! This was Sandy and Chrissie’s first visit back to the Child Labs and
they were particularly impressed with the Infant Center, which didn’t exist during their time here. As Sandy shared in a later e-mail,
“The Labs have become so much more than we ever dreamed possible and countless families have truly been helped when they
needed it most. We may have managed to get the Labs up and running but we had it easy by comparison with the real effort that
followed. It was really all of you in the trenches all these many years that created such a truly unique, substantive and enduring
program for young children and parents.”
Spring events included a Family Art Night that was planned and implemented by student teachers Annee Chau, Jennifer
Drain, and Marianne Schinella. We had a very successful clothing swap, with extra clothes being donated to local shelters.
Several CDL staff attended a two day workshop on the national curriculum “I am Moving, I am Learning” which focuses on the
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importance of movement, focused exercise and nutrition for young children. We received a $1,000 stipend to support
different components of the curriculum. We have already started implementing the program center-wide and look forward to
sharing it with HDFS students.
Our school year ended with a center-wide celebration held at the UConn Rome Ballroom. We enjoyed a family
sing-along with our music teacher, Amanda Hanzlik, a showing of the CDL digital yearbook that was created by CDL
teachers Marianne Legassey and Ellen Meisterling, and a wonderful pasta buffet. To top it off, a rainbow appeared
outside just as dinner came along! We said goodbye to our preschool children who will be moving on to Kindergarten this
fall, many of whom started at the Child Labs as very young infants! We also said goodbye to CDL teacher, Allison
Decker, who will be heading off to graduate school in School Counseling this fall. We wish her all the best in the next
phase of her professional life.
We will start off our fall 2011-2012 school year with new (and much needed) playground equipment on the
Preschool and Toddler playground spaces. The equipment is ADA compliant, accessible and made of recycled materials in
keeping with our “going green” initiative. Many thanks to those who donated to this cause! The Infant Center porch is
getting resurfaced with environmentally friendly (and crawling friendly!) rubber tiles as well as a fresh coat of paint and
outdoor planters. All of the playground spaces have been designed to include the components needed for Nature Explore
certification which we’re hoping to apply for in the fall. These outdoor spaces will offer great learning experiences for the
children and HDFS students alike and we’re excited to get going in August!
College Career Pathways (CCP)
From left to right, (and their
presentation topics for which they
won): Alexandra Zak- “Language
Development in ages 2 to 3”,
Catherine Nesci- “Premature Birth and
its Effects on Toddlerhood”, and CCP
Coordinator, Nicholas Koberstein.
The University of Connecticut Human Development and Family Studies College Career
Pathways Program (CCP) held their 6 th Annual Spring Conference in May. The
Conference was a huge success and experienced several changes this year that
benefited the program.
This year (for the first time) the program was split into two days. Since the
beginning of the program, the Conference has been held in one day for all of the schools
participating. Last year, the Conference’s attendance was so large that students and
teachers were split into two separate areas on campus. To continue the sense of
community and give participants more time to network with each other, the Conference
was split into two days with schools invited on a certain day according to geographic
location.
Also new this year was the first ever “Excellence in HDFS” award recognition.
Students were asked to complete research projects every year about current HDFSrelated
topics. This year, students were asked to present their findings to the CCP team
and the winners were chosen to present at the Conference. The winners all did a great
job and were able to exemplify polished research and public speaking skills.
This year’s Conference was a success and the HDFS CCP Team is continuing to
improve and develop the Conference for future years. We would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to everyone from the
UConn Community, Faculty and HDFS Department who helped with this year’s Conference.
On May 16 th & 17 th , the HDFS College Career Pathways (CCP) program held its annual spring training. Every year,
instructors who teach the HDFS 1070 course at their high schools visit the Storrs campus for updates on the CCP program,
opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, and professional development.
On Monday and Tuesday, four new instructors from high schools across Connecticut were trained in the structure
and content of the course. Dr. Ronald Sabatelli worked with these instructors on the areas of lifespan development, Erikson
family systems, and some of the ways to approach the course with high school students.
On Tuesday, both new and current instructors gathered together to talk about improvements to the annual spring
student conference, showcase new ideas they’ve been trying in their classrooms with formal presentations, and learn about
new developments in the field from Ron.
It was another successful teacher training, as well as another successful academic year for the CCP program.
Currently 59 teachers trained to teach the course and we’d like to thank the HDFS Department for their continued support
and assistance in all our endeavors. We look forward to the 2011-2012 school year and all it brings.
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The Humphrey Clinic for Individual, Couple and Family Therapy (THC)
The Humphrey Clinic for Individual, Couple and Family Therapy (THC) graduated another
class of Master’s students this May. We’re always proud of our graduates, especially the
fact that they are incredibly “employable” in their field. Here are some of the stories of our
recent graduates from the Class of 2011; we hope to share more in the future!
Kristen Cocchia
I’m an Extended Day Clinician at the
Boys & Girls Village in Milford, CT. Up to
twenty kids age 5-14 years come here
every day after school for 6 months, and
it’s a stabilization program similar to an
IOP. I run goal setting and clinical groups
and co facilitate a psycho-ed group each
day. Family sessions are scheduled as needed and
multifamily group runs on Tuesdays. I’m currently the only
MFT at the organization but I’m hoping they’ll hire someone to
supervise me to get hours towards my license! I’m also on the
CTAMFT conference committee and I think I will be
coordinating the student networking portion of the 2012
conference.
Kelly Curran
I’m a primary therapist at the adolescent
and family institute of Colorado. It’s a small
privately owned facility in Wheat Ridge, CO
which uses a systemic, structural,
Bowenian transgenerational approach. I
work with adolescents aged 12-20 years,
typically with substance abuse issues,
complex trauma, and/or antisocial/borderline personality
disorders in a program that ranges from inpatient care, to
partial care, intensive outpatient, and lastly outpatient
treatment. I’m living in Denver and loving it!
Victoria Melnikow
I’m working with children, youth and
families as an outpatient therapist for the
Community Service Board of Fairfax
County, Virginia. I work with children and
their families ages 7 to 18 years who
usually have Medicaid or their care is
funded by the state. And I’m getting
married next year!!
Lyn Moore
After graduating for UConn, I moved home
to the DC area for the summer, worked
outside of the MFT field, and took a family
trip to Tanzania. I moved down to Virginia
Tech in August and have started a doctoral
program here in their Marriage and Family
Therapy program. I’m working for the
Corporate Research Center: Family Studies and working on
six research studies on military families for the Government.
I’m also working on fun-side project on the application of MFT
theories in film with other students in the program. Next stop
is NCFR and hoping to see everyone there!
7
Amanda Pasciucco
I continued to work at my internship at
Clifford Beers Clinic part time while I look
for the full-time job that I want.
Additionally, I have three other jobs that I
am doing on the side which keeps me
busy 7 days a week. Currently, I have
been offered a position as a bilingual
clinician that I am looking into.
Kenna Thurston
I currently work as a teacher’s assistant
and behavioral support (note the strength
based change away from “management”)
specialist. The facility is a step down from
hospitalization for children ages 5-13
years old. Some children live at home and
come for the school day, while others rely
on staff to be their family and reside in residence halls after
school hours. All children have a co-occuring disorder, with
the majority being PTSD as a result of child abuse and
neglect; specifically sexual abuse by family members. The
job is challenging both mentally and emotionally as I am
being challenged to facilitate math and reading groups, while
constantly on edge about when I will have to block a punch or
initiate a restraint. It is like a cultural immersion to spend
eight hours a day with a variety of children transitioning from
academics to electives to organizing their bedrooms. It is
rewarding, exhausting, and powerful to see such children for
more than one hour a week. I have implemented interventions
and positive incentives to aid the children in having a
successful day in class; in hopes of them catching up to what
their peers in public schools would be accomplishing.
Additionally I continue to do coding and data entry to assist
friend’s in their scholarly pursuit.
Ryan Wishart
After graduating, I was offered a position
at my internship site, and I am currently a
clinician at Clifford Beers Clinic. I passed
the Marriage and Family Therapy Exam
that I took in July and am looking for jobs
in order to relocate to North Carolina or
Virginia.

The Ronald and Nancy Rohner Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection (CSIAR)
Ronald and Nancy Rohner were invited to represent the CSIAR and HDFS at a four day series of
presentations featuring, “The Importance of Love, Given and Received: Introduction to Parental
Acceptance-Rejection Theory and Worldwide Evidence.”
Hundreds of studies internationally, including in Colombia, show
that people everywhere in the world, regardless of differences in culture,
ethnicity, language, race, or gender, understand themselves in the same way
to be cared about (or not) by the people most important to them. These
studies also show that people everywhere tend to respond in the same way
when they perceive themselves to be accepted or rejected by the people
most important to them. In this lecture Ronald Rohner will summarize
worldwide evidence supporting these and related conclusions about the
fundamental importance in human life of being able to give love and to receive
Ronald Rohner
love.
Sponsored by the University of the Andes in Bogotá, Columbia,
these lectures and seminars were organized by Dr. Karen Ripoll-Nuñez, Associate Professor of
Psychology at University of the Andes. Karen is a former Fulbright Fellow and an alumnus of our HDFS
Ph.D. program.
Karen Ripoll-Nuñez
Announcements
HDFS Academic Counselor Kate
Andrew and her husband Ryan are
happy to announce the birth of their
son Cole Ryan Andrew. Cole was
born at home on August 1, 2011 at
3:23am weighing in at 8lb12oz and
20.5 inches long. We are all happy
and healthy!
Graduate Student Louisa Baker
and her husband Michael announce
the birth of their son Liam
Alexander Baker, born August 13,
2011.
Truman Robert Huff was born on
February 10 th , to HDFS graduate
student Scott Huff and his wife
Megan. Truman is healthy and
happy and his folks are finally
getting a little more sleep (but not
much). Big brother Topher is very
happy to have him around. His
only complaint seems to be that Truman starts to cry after
receiving too many kisses.
Harper Eden Koberstein was born
February 20 th , to graduate student
Nicholas Koberstein and his
wife HDFS graduate Kristen. At
birth Harper weighed 7lbs, 3oz.,
and measured 18 inches.
Harper’s favorite pastimes are
stroller rides, bath time, and
drinking milk. Her best friend is Charlie the dog.
Ella Claire Blossom was born to Associate Professor Shannon Weaver and husband Stuart Blossom,
on Monday, April 18 th , at 1:07pm. At birth Ella weighed 8 lbs, and measured 20 inches. She is doing
great, as are big brother Jake and sister Dede. Shannon says, “Life is just a good deal busier than it
was before”.
Please send your announcements, with suitable photo to janice.berriault@uconn.edu
8

Spotlight on Students
Congratulations 2011 HDFS Graduates!
Sameer Abdulgal
Nicole Allinson
Christina Amaker
Joseph Arcisz
Marie Aspinwall
Annamarie Aunce
Christine Aveni
Molly Bahre
Amy Bajger
Ronald Baptiste
Catherine Baronas
Shannon Barrett
Andrea Bass
Kristen Bassilakis
Katherine Bentley
Sandra Bills
Rachel Blechman
Cara Bongo
Alyssa Boutillier
Julia Braisted
Jeannette Brito
Courtney Buchanan
Christina Bukowski
Melissa Campoli
Jennifer Cannella
Annee Chau
Nicole Cherubino
Wan-Ting Chiou
Tamara Cintron
Jazzman Clayborn
Devan Cody
Stephanie Cole
Leigha Conant
Jillian Converse
Sarah Crossman
Rebecca Cyr
Allison Czapla
Kelsey Dahling
Michelle Daigle
Shawna Davis
Sarah Deangelo
Margot Demere
Ricardo DeSouza
Katherine DiPietro
Jessica Donovan
Jessica Dowd
Jennifer Drane
Devon Eamiello
Elizabeth Engelmann
Lauren Everett
Nupsie Exantus
Michael Fabrizio
Cristina Fajardo
Devon Eamiello
Cara Flynn
Christine Fraioli
Stephanie Frye
Elena Garcia
Caitlin Geary
Jovin Girard
Leanne Golden
Brynna Gravlin
Chelsea Hagen
Jillian Hardy
Pamela Harrison
Kimberly Hasenstab
Laura Hawk
Rebecca Heinz
Janee Hendricks
Rachael Hepworth
Kimberly Herbette
Chanel Hildebrand
Sara Hodis
Alyssa Huddleston
Jacqueline Iannucci
Jacqueline Ierardi
Marc Igdalsky
Marisely Jimenez-Cruz
Sarah Keating
Michelle Kiely
Vera Kiriakides
Jane Knight
Christina Kondziela
Sloane Krauss
Amy Kretovics
Dana Krofssik
Elizabeth Lamour
Phi Beta Kappa - Epsilon of Connecticut - New Initiates 2011
Name Level Major Second Major
Molly Maxine Bahre Senior HDFS
Kristen Ann Bassilakis Senior HDFS Psychology
*Victoria Annton Bosshart Senior HDFS
Jennifer Leigh Cannella Senior Psychology HDFS
Devan Hall Cody Senior HDFS
Rebecca S. Cyr Senior Psychology HDFS
Cara Micaela Flynn Senior Psychology HDFS
Kimberly Anne Herbette Senior HDFS
Amy Alana Holland Senior Psychology HDFS
Kathryn E. Lohr Senior Psychology HDFS
Erica Jane Palumbo Junior Psychology HDFS
*Kira Melanie Pierce Senior Psychology HDFS
Lauren Brogan Reilly Junior HDFS
Jessica D. Rich Senior Psychology HDFS
Mackenzie Kate Richardson Senior Psychology HDFS
Rebecca L. Ruitto Senior Psychology HDFS
Matthew K. Shang Senior Psychology HDFS
*Noelle Theresa Staufenberger Senior HDFS Psychology
*Allison Patricia Tartaglino Senior HDFS
Maximilian John Thiel Senior English HDFS
Ian Bernie Zettervall Senior Psychology HDFS
Megan Lavalette
Janice Lewis
Kathryn Lohr
Alyssa Loutsion
Ashley Loviza
Erin Macneil
Briana Mangram
Jenna Mazzilli
Kimberly Mazzone
Beatriz Melendez
Erin Montague
Abigail Morales
Samantha Murray
Ariel Nathan
Kim Nguyen
Michael O’Brien
Nicole O’Connor
Sonique Paige
Jessica Palladino
Lauren Palmieri
Lillian Pearson
Mariana Perdomo
Brigitte Phelan
Jillian Phelps
Lauren Pires
Erika Puccio
Sara Purdy
Jessica Rich
Kacey Richards
Mackenzie Richardson
Nicholle Riley
Tamika Riley
Bianca Rios
Caitlyn Rode
Erica Rodriguez
Rebecca Ruitto
Adela Rusi
Holly Sansolo
Lorimar Santiago
Christine Santos
Lisa Sapienza
Michael Saraceno
Criselda Sarenas
Dina Savoca
Nicole Scalise
Stephanie Schiessl
Marianne Schinella
Amy Schwarz
Nicole Scrivano
Matthew Shang
Rawan Shilleh
Monarae Shurko
Lianna Staffieri
Christina Stockford
Amelia Taylor
Maximilian Thiel
William Thomas
Sara Thong
Ashlee Tingley
Karen Touch
Laura Traceski
Luciana Trani
Sara Trinque
Amanda Updyke
Bianca Vaghji
Minnelly Vasquez
Sarah Wall
Kimberly Wash
Lisa Watson
Julia West
Candace Williams
Allyson Winne
Lauren Young
William Young
Ian Zettervall
Jaime Ziegler
*Graduated in 2010
9

Congratulations HDFS 2010-2011 Scholarship Recipients!
Human Development and Family Studies Honors Poster Presentations and Reception
On April 20th, the HDFS Honors Program held its annual Honors Theses Poster
Presentation, where this year’s cohort of four honors students presented their thesis
posters to faculty, staff, family, and friends. The poster presentation marked the
culmination of a year-long process for the students, who all designed and conducted their
own independent research projects under the direction of their thesis advisors.
The event and subsequent reception were held in the Deans’ Lounge of the
Family Studies building. During the reception, the students’ thesis advisors introduced
them and wowed the audience with details about the students’ many accomplishments
and exciting future plans.
Cara Flynn (Advisor: Associate Professor Anne
Farrell) presented her poster, “Exploring the
L-R: Anita Garey, Sara Johnson,
Rebecca Ruitto, Michael Saraceno,
Elena Garcia, Cara Flynn.
Achievement Gap: Relations among Student Achievement, Ethnicity, Attendance, and
Discipline in a Diverse Northeastern City.” For the next two years, Cara will work as a
Teach for America corps member in Memphis, Tennessee. As part of her position, she will
also complete a master’s degree in education from Christian Brothers University.
Elena Garcia (Advisor: Associate Professor Nancy Sheehan) presented her research,
entitled “Resident’s Perceptions of Social Activity and Social Interaction in an Affordable
Assisted Living Facility.” Elena is pursuing work in the admissions department of a local
nursing home and has begun completing the requirements for the Nursing Home
Administrator certification.
Rebecca L. Ruitto (Advisor: Associate Professor Shannon E. Weaver) presented her
poster, “Emerging Adults’ Romantic Relationships, Friendships, and Parent-Child
Relationships.” Rebecca is currently exploring graduate school options for her intended
career in Marriage and Family Therapy or a closely related field.
Pictured with Rebecca is HDFS graduate student Sara Johnson, standing in for
Shannon Weaver, who was on maternity leave.
Michael J. Saraceno (Advisor: Assistant Professor Rachel Tambling) presented his
research, entitled “The Sexy Issue: What Do The Images in Cosmopolitan Say About
Sexualities and Relationships in Modern America?” Mike is working as a research assistant
in a psychology lab on campus and plans to pursue a graduate degree in the social
sciences.
More information about the Honors Program, including photos of the students and copies of their posters, is available at the
HDFS Honors Program website: http://www.familystudies.uconn.edu/undergraduate/honors.html. The website also has
information about past HDFS Honors student cohorts beginning in 2004 through 2010.
10

From the May 2011 issue of Our Moment, the UConn Foundation’s e-newsletter
Rising senior and Human Development and Family Studies major Stephanie Godbout had a moment in
high school when she saw what creativity could do in the life of a child. She was job shadowing a speech
pathologist one day, and watched him use a speech board with a young boy who had lost his verbal
communication skills during brain surgery. “The child was communicating, and it was incredible to me
that the pathologist had helped him do that,” Godbout says.
Godbout, the 2010-2011 winner of the Clyde A. Jones Scholarship from Human Development and
Family Studies, follows in the footsteps of Professor Jones, an early childhood specialist who used
creativity in his daily dealings with students, and who in turn encouraged them to use it to stir the minds
of the children with whom they were working. Although Jones passed away in 2009, his educational
philosophies live on through his former students, and through his scholarship.
Jones was an artist-turned-educator who, his former students say, used art as an avenue to reach
students. “He came at curriculum with this idea that teachers should use what children are interested in
Stephanie Godbout and what they love when developing curriculum, that it should be about a unity with beauty and nature
and all sorts of complicated premises that really were not part of curriculum development back then,”
says Meg Galante-DeAngelis, a longtime lecturer at UConn and one of Jones’ former students. “In his class, our work was very
exacting; we did a lot of measurements using principles of visual design, he talked a lot about color and puppetry and all sort of
things he was interested in. I repeat to my students something he always said to us; he thought that the youngest children should
have the most-well-educated teachers because they couldn’t communicate easily all of their desires. The more educated a teacher
was, the more easily she would understand what a child needed.”
Another former student, Maureen Mulroy, now an emeritus associate professor in Human Development and Family Studies,
remembers Jones as quiet and yet, as she says, “a marvelous teacher.”
“He was a great early childhood educator — he was never a friend but I was allowed a certain degree of collegial equality after I got
my Ph.D. and improved myself – he was difficult, demanding, fair, peculiar, a bit of a peacock, and really from the old school of early
childhood education.
Others became friends of Jones once he retired, when he could be seen outdoors drawing pencil sketches of scenes
throughout Storrs, then sending them to friends. “He was an artist who got a Ph.D. in human development, so he got an academic
wrapping around that,” says emeritus professor Irene Brown, who befriended Jones when he was living at a healthcare facility in
Mansfield. “He was interesting in that he thought about the child is what we would call a progressive way, that a child should be
exposed to the arts. And he was devoted to UConn; the fact that he made this donation is a sign of his commitment to this
institution. Every fall we would have a celebration of the scholarship students with the donors, and he would come.”
Now that Jones is deceased, the students who win his scholarship know little about their benefactor. But they are grateful to
him nonetheless. Godbout is one of four children in a family that couldn’t afford to pay for her to attend college, and she has used
work-study and scholarships to get through UConn. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Bristol Central High School
and a Presidential Scholarship recipient whose education has taken her out of UConn’s classrooms and into the public schools,
where she has observed classes. She also works part-time in UConn’s Child Development Lab, and appreciates the on-site
experience. “Human Development and Family Studies really gets students involved,” she says.
The curriculum changes over the years, but the philosophy remains the same: “I credit Clyde Jones and others in the
program with really preparing us well for advanced graduate education,” says Mulroy,” and for helping us understand the opportunities
that were just beginning to be open for the strong voiced and the stiff-spined women who were making a difference then.”
And now. “I find the things I am learning are really exciting,” Godbout says. “And the scholarship really helps.”
To give to the Human Development and Family Studies program, please contact the Foundation’s development department.
www.foundation.uconn.edu Phone: 800.269.9965 or 860.486.5000
Family Studies Undergraduate Committee (FSUC)
The FSUC were busy this year reaching out to the HDFS community. Their activities included Pizza Socials, participation in Lee
National Denim Day, and also taking part in fundraisers through Panda Express and Friendly’s. Two major events for the FSUC were
Confused about Courses, and Career Night. FSUC closed out this year with an HDFS T-shirt sale, where they also sold HDFS string
bags and HDFS mugs. A portion of the proceeds were donated to a local charity, Adam’s Adventure. For more information about
Adam’s Adventure, go to adamsadventure.org.
The FSUC has elected officers for the 2011-2012 academic year. FSUC President is Rachael Glidden; Vice President,
Cristin Caparotta; Secretary, Chelsea Dellano; Treasurer, Rebecca Shubert; Advertising Chair, Kasey Carta; and Alumni Liaison,
Chelsea Ashbrook.
Two of Professor Tom Blank’s research practicum students, Stephanie Frye and Courtney Buchanan, presented a poster at
Frontiers in Undergraduate Research in April. The poster was entitled, “The Changes and Challenges of Adult Cancer Survivors”.
Stephanie just graduated with an HDFS major, and Courtney with a double major in HDFS and Psychology.
11

Congratulations HDFS Graduate Students, Class of 2011!
Iva Kosutic
Lyn Lawrence
Jill Popp
Doctor of Philosophy
Nivedita Ranade
Jessica Sanderson
Marisol Garcia
Graduate Students
Kristen Coccia
Kelly Curran
Samantha Goodrich
Ppudah Ki
Jacqueline Larriva
Master of Arts
Victoria Melnikow
Lyn Moore
Amanda Pasciucco
Steven Schmidt
Kenna Thurston
Ryan Wishart
This year’s MFT Master’s Cohort graduated on May 7th -
Ryan Wishart, Kenna Thurston, Ppudah Ki, Kelly Curran,
Kristen Cocchia, Lyn Moore, Victoria Melnikow, and
Amanda Pasciucco.
Samit Bordoloi, HDFS doctoral candidate, won the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) Teaching Social Problems
Graduate Student Paper Competition. His prize winning paper received the award and prize money at the 61 st Annual Meeting of
SSSP August 19 th -21 st , 2011. Congratulations Samit!
In April, graduate student Steven Schmidt presented a poster of his MA thesis entitled, “The Role of Attachment Style in
Posttraumatic Growth in Cancer Survivors”, at the 32 nd Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral
Medicine, in Washington, DC.
Also, Steven has accepted an adjunct teaching position at Trinity College starting in the fall.
University of Connecticut Council on Family Relations (UCCFR)
We continued to have our Pizza Nights with staff and graduate students throughout the year, which is always a nice way for all of
us to take a break together. During Pizza Night on Tuesday April 12 th , we were able to meet Nick Koberstein and HDFS
graduate Kristen Carlisle Koberstein’s new baby, Harper, for the first time!
We also organized a Giving Tree again this year, where we sponsored two families through the town of Mansfield. This
year the Child Labs was also kind enough to sponsor a family through EastConn. We had a great response for all families and
donated a lot of gifts!
Some of the graduate students also participated in FSUC’s Career Night at a graduate table, providing information to the
undergraduates about how to apply to graduate school and tell what graduate school is like.
We hope to have a bigger-and-better year next year, and as always are looking for more people to get involved! We hope
to coordinate with FSUC more in the coming years and continue to support and connect with all the graduate students in our
department.
MA Defenses
Graduate student Lyn E. Moore defended her Master’s thesis entitled, “The Effect of Distress, Referral Source, and Pressure to
Attend Therapy on Motivation to Change, on April 13 th . Members of her advising team were: Major Advisor, Rachel Tambling,
Ph.D.; Associate Advisor, Stephen Anderson, Ph.D.; and Associate Advisor, Shayne Anderson, Ph.D.
On April 14 th , graduate student Jaqueline C. Larriva defended her Master’s thesis entitled, “Love, sex, and the body: Exploring
the sexual and romantic relationships of transgender people”. Members of her advising team were: Major Advisor, Marysol
Asencio, Dr.P.H.; Associate Advisor, Edna Brown, Ph.D.; and Associate Advisor, Nancy A. Naples, Ph.D.
PhD Defenses
Doctoral candidate Nivedita Ranade defended her dissertation entitled, “What’s ‘Arranged’ Got To Do With It?: Transition to
Arranged Marriages Among Asian-Indian Newly-Wed Couples In India and the U.S”, on April 19 th . Members of her advising team
were: Major Advisor, Anita I. Garey, Ph.D.; Associate Advisor, Ronald M. Sabatelli, Ph.D.; and Associate Advisor, Shannon E.
Weaver, Ph.D.
12

Doctoral candidate Marisol Garcia defended her dissertation entitled, “The Colonization of Sexuality Within the Dominican
American Diaspora”, on April 28 th . Members of her advising team were, Major Advisor, Stephen Anderson, Ph.D.; Associate
Advisor, Marysol Asencio, Dr. P.H.; and Associate Advisor, Teresa McDowell, Ph.D.
On May 3 rd , doctoral candidate Lyn Haselden Lawrence defended her dissertation entitled, “Motherhood and Reproduction
in the Lives of Women with Bipolar Disorder”. Members of Lyn’s advising team were: Major Advisor, Anita I. Garey, Ph.D.;
Associate Advisor, Ronald M. Sabatelli, Ph.D.; and Associate Advisor, James O’Neil, Ph.D.
Also, doctoral candidate Mary A. Sutherland defended her dissertation entitled, “A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Reactivity
and Regulation in Early Infancy Using Arm Restraint at 2 and 6 Months”, on May 16 th . Members of Mary’s advising team
were: Major Advisor, Charles M. Super, Ph.D.; Associate Advisor, Sara Harkness, Ph.D., M.P.H.; Associate Advisor,
James A. Green, Ph.D.
Alumni News
In Memory of Patricia Jedrziewski Young
Published in The Hartford Courant, March 26, 2011
Patricia Mae (Chartier) Jedrziewski Young passed gently from this world Thursday, March 24, 2011.
Born January 26, 1923, daughter of the late Carroll and Olive (McIntosh) Chartier, Patricia graduated
from Manchester High School, Class of 1940. She earned her BA in Education in 1968 from the
University of Connecticut, returning to school while raising a family of seven children. She later
earned her Master’s Degree in education, also from UConn.
Patricia blended her formal education with her life experiences, teaching Home Economics
and Child Development for sixteen years, fifteen at Tolland High School, where she was awarded
State of Connecticut Teacher of the Year. Patricia was also an active 4-H club leader for multiple
years. With her first husband Chester Jedrziewski, she won numerous awards as a member of both
the Hamilton Standard and Yankee Sports Car Clubs.
Patricia was a master tailor and an avid quilter. She created quilts specifically designed for
the unique interests and characteristics of all her children and grandchildren, which were featured in
a public show sponsored in part by the Tolland Historical Society.
Active in the Catholic Church, Patricia served as Eucharistic Minister at Saint Matthew
Church in Tolland and Saint Teresa’s in Granby. She loved to travel, had a thirst for knowledge, and enjoyed fishing and cheering
for the Boston Red Sox.
Patricia was predeceased by her first husband, Chester Jedrziewski, her son, First Lieutenant Terrance Edward
Jedrziewski, and her granddaughter, Casey Marie Jedrziewski. She leaves her second husband, Fred Young of Simsbury; her
daughters, Karen Tessier of Ewa Beach, HI, and Pamela Martin of Fairfield; her sons, Stefan Jedrziewski of Willington, David
Jedrziewski of Fleming Island, FL, James Jedrziewski of Tolland, and Richard Jedrziewski of Salt Lake City, UT, as well as her
sister, Jeanne Dilworth of Middletown. She also leaves 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren from her marriage to Chester
and four step children, 16 step grandchildren, 13 step great grandchildren and three step great-great grandchildren from her
marriage to Fred.
Memorial donations may be made to the Casey Marie Jedrziewski Memorial Scholarship Fund, 2386 Stockton Drive,
Fleming Island, FL 32003.
Have a photo of UConn you’d like to share with the HDFS Communicator?
If you have a photo that you have taken, the HDFS Communicator is soliciting photographs for publication as part of our
newsletter. Please submit high-resolution photographs to Janice.Berriault@uconn.edu for possible inclusion. All photos
remain the property of the photographer and are only reproduced within the HDFS communicator with full photo credit.
Please submit your images of UConn events, places or alum!
13

University of Connecticut
Department of Human Development & Family Studies
348 Mansfield Road, Unit 2058
Storrs, CT 06269-2058
Phone: 860.486.4720
Photo by Lainie Hiller
Photo by Preston A. Britner