Graduate Students

Entered program Fall 2024

Research interests early childhood development, social/emotional development, resilience, parent-child relationships, early peer relationships, psychobiological influences on development, how childhood behavioral patterns/relational skills progress into adulthood

Email kylie.edgington@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Wen Wang

Entered program Fall 2024

Research interests The effects of adverse childhood experiences (including adoption trauma, foster care trauma, trauma in infancy, toxic stress, and food insecurity) on future development and health outcomes such as psychopathology (anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, etc.) stress response, attachment, emotional regulation, coping, desensitization & deregulation

Email olivia.how@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Carmen Kho

Entered program Fall 2024

Research interests The main focus of my research is the socialization of emotion regulation within the parenting context. I am also interested in attachment and mindfulness, particularly mindful parenting.

Email z.alvanditabrizi@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Carmen Kho

Entered program Fall 2023

Research interests Intimate partner violence, community-based trauma and substance abuse treatment and mental health among marginalized populations

Email damaris.bibi@ndsu.edu

Entered program Fall 2023

Research interests Parent-child relationships, Prevention Science, risk-resilience, subjective age, developmental psychopathology, interpersonal relationships and their impact on human development, social self-efficacy, internalized stigma.

Email burak.dogruoz@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Leanna McWood

Entered program Fall 2023

Research interests child and adolescent development and well-being within marginalized contexts, emphasizing equity, inclusion, and social justice. I explore the roles of families and communities for development while also examining effective interventions, cross-cultural perspectives, and policy advocacy to empower marginalized youth.

Email fahad.usman@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Wen Wang

Entered program Fall 2022

Research interests Child development, parent-child relationship, family life education, how family relationships and parenting styles can influence child's well-being

Email niloofar.hakhamy@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Sean Brotherson

Entered program Fall 2022

Research interests Creativity and Social Emotional Learning, the science of happiness, positive youth development, and the influence of neurobiology on mental health and well-being.

Email caroline.homan@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Joel Hektner

Entered program Fall 2022

Research interests Social and cultural influences on development; transition to college; public policy; adolescence and motivation.

Email suzette.hudson@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Sean Brotherson

Entered program Fall 2022

Research interests Health promotion among minorities through education and community development, behavioral health promotion among pregnant women, Impacts of covid 19 pandemic on behavioral health, the importance of social connection on lifespan development.

Email debarati.kole@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Heather Fuller

Entered program Fall 2022

Research interests Child development and protection. I am passionate about conditions that enable the maximum survival and development of children; implementation of programs that facilitate a smooth transition from one developmental stage to the other and interventions for improving mental health and the wellbeing of children.

Email precious.ngwayarudza@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Joel Hektner

Entered program Fall 2022

Research interests Preservation of the cognitive health and physical functioning of older people of normal as well as dementia or Alzheimer's population; Promotion of healthy aging for the well-being of people in the middle and later life stages. Mindfulness and Qigong-related strategies to promote health, happiness, and well-being.

Email yufang.tu@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Melissa O'Connor

Entered program Fall 2021

Research interests Wellbeing among working adults, intervention & program evaluation studies, workplace dynamics and lifelong attitude development, family studies, and development of human resourcefulness

Email beckham.arthur@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Sean Brotherson

Entered program Fall 2021

Research interests Child development and how parent-child interactions along with peer relationships can influence development from infancy through adolescence. I am also interested in how different interventions in early education can promote optimal development in later life.

Email jordan.bentz@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Joel Hektner and Dr. Leanna McWood

Entered program Fall 2021

Research interests Parent-child relations, family policy, the influence of culture and social relationships on lifespan development, and program development, implementation, and evaluation

Email melisa.hajdar@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Heather Fuller

Entered program Fall, 2021

Research interests Promoting resilience and optimal function in populations considered disadvantaged or at-risk, prevention science, social emotional learning, family and caregiver training, lifestyle approaches for optimizing health and psychological wellbeing, universal and targeted intervention, and program development

Email jordan.mooney@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Joel Hektner

Entered program Fall 2021

Research interests Aging in place with an emphasis on the rural setting

Email teri_undem@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Heather Fuller

Entered program Fall 2020

Research interests Broadly concerned with interpersonal dynamics and resilience in rural families and communities. I am also interested in immigration, migration from urban to rural environments, and isolation.

Email bryce.vanvleet@ndsu.edu

Faculty AdvisorDr. Heather Fuller

Entered program Fall 2019

Research interests The interplay between social relationships and cognitive aging, especially in the setting of social games and competition; investigating and treating the physiological breakdown and cognitive decline caused by neurodegenerative diseases; intergenerational relationships

Email megan.hay@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Melissa O'Connor

Entered program Fall 2018

Research interests Currently, I am exploring successful aging across the lifespan. Other areas of interest include: longevity, wellness, yoga, and lifestyles that support health and happiness across every part of development.

Emailrachel.grace@ndsu.edu

Faculty Advisor Dr. Joel Hektner

Entered program Fall 2018

Research interests Psychological well-being in rural and farm communities, masculinity and mental health, and healthy aging across the life-span.

Emailphilip.estepp@ndsu.edu

Faculty AdvisorDr. Sean Brotherson