Professor and Head 
(PhD, University of Chicago) 

Phone (701) 231-8269 
Email Joel.Hektner@ndsu.edu 

Core Area: Child, Adolescent Development 

Research Interests: Design and effectiveness of programs to prevent adjustment problems and promote well-being in children and adolescents; Peer affiliation patterns and peer influences on children's behaviors; Family and school conditions that facilitate optimal experiences (flow) and optimal development; The Experience Sampling Method

Developmental Science Program

Academic Advisor
Academic Advising Center

Phone (701) 231-9849
E-mail Amolia.Schumacher@ndsu.edu

Professor
(PhD, University of Georgia) 

Office Phone (701) 231-7568 
Email Jim.Deal@ndsu.edu 

Core Area: Child Development  

Research Interests: Identity development in emerging adulthood, particularly in the areas of religion, the transition to college, first generation and/or low income students, and issues related to financial support. 

Developmental Science Program

Professor 
(PhD, Iowa State University)

Office Phone 701-231-9792
Email margaret.fitzgerald@ndsu.edu

Core Area: Financial Planning and Public Policy; Family Science

Research Interests: Family Owned Businesses--copreneurial couples, women and minority owned businesses, the interface between the business, family and community, and managerial adjustment strategies.

Professor 
(PhD, University of Michigan) 

Phone (701) 231-5621 
EmailHeather.Fuller@ndsu.edu 

Core Area: Adult Development and Aging 

Research Interests: Social relationships and well-being across the lifespan (e.g. intergenerational relationships); Successful aging and health promotion; Aging in rural and cross-cultural contexts; Aging families and caregiving; Survey research and program evaluation 

Research Lab:Linked Lives Lab

Developmental Science Program

Assistant Professor
(PhD, University of California Merced) 

Phone (701) 231-1823 
Email Carmen.Kho@ndsu.edu

Core Area: Context and Diversity, Adolescence, Emerging Adulthood 

Research Interests: I apply a cultural-ecological framework to examine how cultural, family, and other contextual influences intersect with socio-emotional development of children, adolescents, and emerging adults. My research takes a normative development approach and examines developmental processes with careful consideration of contexts in which they take place (e.g., family, neighborhoods, immigrant receiving context) and the timescale in which these processes occur (e.g., moment-to-moment, day-to-day, across years).  

Developmental Science Program

Professor
(PhD, University of Minnesota) 

Phone (701) 231-7335 
Email Christine.McGeorge@ndsu.edu 

Core Area: Couple and Family Therapy and Family Science 

Research Interests: The influence of heterosexism, cissexism, and sexual and gender minority prejudice on clinical practice and training, gender equity in therapy, promoting LGBTQ ally behavior in collegiate athletics, gender equity in higher education, and societal perceptions of single parents.

Assistant Professor
(PhD, Auburn University) 

Phone (701) 231-1826
Email Leanna.McWood@ndsu.edu

Core Area: Child and Adolescent Develoment

Research Interests: The goal of my research agenda is to examine developmental processes in relational contexts (e.g., peer and family) and identify potential risk or resilience factors that promote positive development (mental and physical health). One key relational context I study is extracurricular involvement, particularly under what conditions organized activities are beneficial or risky.

Developmental Science Program

Assistant Professor  
(PhD, Texas Tech University)  

Phone (701) 231-1828
Email Natira.Mullet@ndsu.edu 

Core Area: Diversity and Family Science 

Research Interests: Examining intergenerational, cultural and familial protective factors to reduce interpersonal trauma and resulting substance use and mental health outcomes among marginalized communities.  

Developmental Science Program

Associate Professor
(PhD, University of South Florida) 

Phone (701) 231-8688
EmailMelissa.OConnor@ndsu.edu 

Core Area: Adult Development and Aging 

Research Interests: Examining age-related differences and changes in cognitive and functional abilities, such as driving, among healthy adults and clinical populations; quantitative methods and psychometrics; interventions for improving cognition, health, and everyday functioning; and attitudes toward dementia. 

Research Lab: Healthy Aging Lab 

Developmental Science Program

Assistant Professor
(PhD Michigan State University) 

Phone (701) 231-1875
EmailWen.Wang@ndsu.edu 

Core Area:  Child Development 

Research Interests:  The development of young children’s mastery motivation and persistence; Cultural variances in parenting and early parent-infant communication; Prosocial behaviors and emotions towards racial ingroup and outgroup members

Developmental Science Program

Professor
(PhD, University of Georgia)

Phone 701.231.8212
EmailRonald.Werner.Wilson@ndsu.edu

Core Area: Adolescence and Marriage and Family Therapy Process Research

Research Interests: Dr. Werner-Wilson has published a series of articles that attempt to understand multiple influences and contextual factors associated with adolescent and young adult sexuality that include implications for sexuality education. In addition to investigating adolescent sexuality, Dr. Werner-Wilson  studies the relationship between structured-out-of-school experiences and positive youth development. In addition to publishing empirical articles that have investigated adolescence and marriage and family therapy, Dr. Werner-Wilson has published material associated with adolescent treatment. Dr. Werner-Wilson co-authored a grant proposal that was funded by the National Institute for Mental Health to investigate the influence of physiological arousal on couple communication.  This basic research will contribute to a better understanding about couple communication.  

Senior Lecturer
​​​​​​​(MS, North Dakota State University) 

Human Development and Family Science and Women and Gender Studies

Phone (701) 231-7755 
Email Dena.Wyum@ndsu.edu 

Extension Family Science Specialist, Professor
(PhD, Oregon State University)

Office Phone (701) 231-6143
Email sean.brotherson@ndsu.edu 

Core Area: Family Science 

Research Interests: Parenting and fatherhood; Health marriages; Family stress; Rural families; Grief and bereavement; Family life education; Family policy 

Developmental Science Program