Past Graduate Students
Antonia Caba, Ph.D. (2024)
(she/her)
Research Associate, University of Connecticut, School of Social Work
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: The role of the internet on sexual and gender diverse youth’s identity development
Veronica Hanna, Ph.D. (2024)
(she/her)
Research Associate, University of Connecticut, School of Social Work
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: The role of religion in sexual and gender diverse youth and young adults' lives
Alyssa Clark, Ph.D. (2023)
(she/they)
Walter D. Foss Endowed Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, The College of Wooster
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Sexual and affectionate behaviors in adult romantic relationships
Tracy L. Walters, Ph.D. (2023)
(she/her)
Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County, Department of Integrated Studies
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Correlates of young adults' sexual behavior and its consequences
Samantha Lawrence, Ph.D. (2022)
(she/her)
Assistant Research Professor, University of Connecticut, School of Social Work
Website: https://samanthaelawrence.weebly.com/
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: The nature and psychosocial correlates of family-based weight communication and stigma
Yuan Zhang, Ph.D. (2022)
(she/her)
Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ
Email:
Dissertation title: Examining the association between acculturation and parental psychological control in Chinese immigrant mothers
Chelom E. Leavitt, Ph.D. (2017)
(she/her)
Associate Professor, Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah
Website: http://www.chelomleavitt.com/
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Relational and sexual satisfaction in midlife and mindfulness
Rose Wesche, Ph.D. (2017)
(she/her)
Assistant Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA
Website: www.rosewesche.com
Dissertation title: Friends, romantic partners, and casual sexual partners: Exploring the social transmission of alcohol use in adolescence and young adulthood
Emily Waterman, Ph.D. (2017)
(she/her)
Faculty member, Bennington College in Bennington, VT
Website: https://www.bennington.edu/academics/faculty/emily-waterman
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Preventing sexual victimization on college campuses: Implications for the translational spectrum
Megan K. Maas, Ph.D. (2016)
(she/her)
Assistant Professor, Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI
Website: http://www.meganmaas.com/
Dissertation title: A person-centered approach to online and offline sexual behavior among female adolescents
Sara A. Vasilenko, Ph.D. (2011)
(she/her)
Associate Professor, Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY
Website: https://falk.syr.edu/people/vasilenko-sara/
Dissertation title: Sexual behavior & mental health in late adolescence
Graciela Espinosa-Hernandez, Ph.D. (2009)
(she/her)
Professor and Department Chair, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Website: http://uncw.edu/psy/about/faculty-espinosa-hernandez.html
Dissertation title: Sexual development in emerging adulthood
Kelly Cichy, Ph. D. (2007)
(she/her)
Professor, Kent State University in Kent, OH
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Within and between family associations in attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions in the parent-adult offspring relationship
Meghan Gillen, Ph. D. (2006)
(she/her)
Professor and Program Chair, Pennsylvania State University Abington
Website: http://www.abington.psu.edu/academics/faculty/dr-meghan-gillen
Dissertation title: Body image development in emerging adulthood
Tanya Boone, Ph. D. (2003)
(she/her)
Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, SC
Website:
Dissertation title: Mother-adolescent sexual communication in a developmental context
(she/her)
Research Associate, University of Connecticut, School of Social Work
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: The role of the internet on sexual and gender diverse youth’s identity development
Veronica Hanna, Ph.D. (2024)
(she/her)
Research Associate, University of Connecticut, School of Social Work
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: The role of religion in sexual and gender diverse youth and young adults' lives
Alyssa Clark, Ph.D. (2023)
(she/they)
Walter D. Foss Endowed Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, The College of Wooster
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Sexual and affectionate behaviors in adult romantic relationships
Tracy L. Walters, Ph.D. (2023)
(she/her)
Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County, Department of Integrated Studies
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Correlates of young adults' sexual behavior and its consequences
Samantha Lawrence, Ph.D. (2022)
(she/her)
Assistant Research Professor, University of Connecticut, School of Social Work
Website: https://samanthaelawrence.weebly.com/
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: The nature and psychosocial correlates of family-based weight communication and stigma
Yuan Zhang, Ph.D. (2022)
(she/her)
Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ
Email:
Dissertation title: Examining the association between acculturation and parental psychological control in Chinese immigrant mothers
Chelom E. Leavitt, Ph.D. (2017)
(she/her)
Associate Professor, Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah
Website: http://www.chelomleavitt.com/
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Relational and sexual satisfaction in midlife and mindfulness
Rose Wesche, Ph.D. (2017)
(she/her)
Assistant Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA
Website: www.rosewesche.com
Dissertation title: Friends, romantic partners, and casual sexual partners: Exploring the social transmission of alcohol use in adolescence and young adulthood
Emily Waterman, Ph.D. (2017)
(she/her)
Faculty member, Bennington College in Bennington, VT
Website: https://www.bennington.edu/academics/faculty/emily-waterman
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Preventing sexual victimization on college campuses: Implications for the translational spectrum
Megan K. Maas, Ph.D. (2016)
(she/her)
Assistant Professor, Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI
Website: http://www.meganmaas.com/
Dissertation title: A person-centered approach to online and offline sexual behavior among female adolescents
Sara A. Vasilenko, Ph.D. (2011)
(she/her)
Associate Professor, Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY
Website: https://falk.syr.edu/people/vasilenko-sara/
Dissertation title: Sexual behavior & mental health in late adolescence
Graciela Espinosa-Hernandez, Ph.D. (2009)
(she/her)
Professor and Department Chair, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Website: http://uncw.edu/psy/about/faculty-espinosa-hernandez.html
Dissertation title: Sexual development in emerging adulthood
Kelly Cichy, Ph. D. (2007)
(she/her)
Professor, Kent State University in Kent, OH
Email: [email protected]
Dissertation title: Within and between family associations in attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions in the parent-adult offspring relationship
Meghan Gillen, Ph. D. (2006)
(she/her)
Professor and Program Chair, Pennsylvania State University Abington
Website: http://www.abington.psu.edu/academics/faculty/dr-meghan-gillen
Dissertation title: Body image development in emerging adulthood
Tanya Boone, Ph. D. (2003)
(she/her)
Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, SC
Website:
Dissertation title: Mother-adolescent sexual communication in a developmental context
Past Undergraduate Students
Sophia Lindsay (HDFS, 2022)
Paulina C. Anderson (BA HDFS with honors, 2018)
Honors Thesis title: How personality and physical attractiveness are associated with sexual behaviors
Kelsie R. Walsh (BS HDFS with honors, 2013)
Honors Thesis title: Associations between sexual behavior and self-esteem among college attending emerging adults
Kate Kelly (BS HDFS with honors, 2011)
Honors Thesis title: Predictors and correlates of HPV vaccination among a female college student sample
*3rd place College of Health and Human Development Thesis Award Recipient
Christina Iannucci (BS HDFS with honors, 2009)
Honors Thesis title: How religiosity moderates the association between motivations for sex and sexual behavior
Caitlin Griffin (BS HDFS with honors, 2008)
Kimberly Schwarz (BS Biobehavioral Health with honors, 2007)
Honors Thesis title: Sex and the student: School performance, school involvement, and sexual behavior and attitudes
Erica Manahan (BS HDFS with honors, 2006)
Honors Thesis title: Religiosity and sexual attitudes of sexually active and sexually abstinent first year college students
Sophia Khan (BS HDFS with honors, 2005)
Honors Thesis title: Gender role development of emerging adults from different ethnic groups
Laura Musser (BS Psychology with honors, 2005)
Honors Thesis title: Communication openness in the parent-adult offspring relationship
Deena Sadiky (BS HDFS with honors, 2004)
Honors Thesis title: Association of high school crowd identity and college students’ sexual attitudes and behaviors
Shelley Hosterman (BS Psychology, with honors, 2002)
Honors Thesis title: Reducing the risk: Gender ideology, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviors in emerging adulthood
Paulina C. Anderson (BA HDFS with honors, 2018)
Honors Thesis title: How personality and physical attractiveness are associated with sexual behaviors
Kelsie R. Walsh (BS HDFS with honors, 2013)
Honors Thesis title: Associations between sexual behavior and self-esteem among college attending emerging adults
Kate Kelly (BS HDFS with honors, 2011)
Honors Thesis title: Predictors and correlates of HPV vaccination among a female college student sample
*3rd place College of Health and Human Development Thesis Award Recipient
Christina Iannucci (BS HDFS with honors, 2009)
Honors Thesis title: How religiosity moderates the association between motivations for sex and sexual behavior
Caitlin Griffin (BS HDFS with honors, 2008)
Kimberly Schwarz (BS Biobehavioral Health with honors, 2007)
Honors Thesis title: Sex and the student: School performance, school involvement, and sexual behavior and attitudes
Erica Manahan (BS HDFS with honors, 2006)
Honors Thesis title: Religiosity and sexual attitudes of sexually active and sexually abstinent first year college students
Sophia Khan (BS HDFS with honors, 2005)
Honors Thesis title: Gender role development of emerging adults from different ethnic groups
Laura Musser (BS Psychology with honors, 2005)
Honors Thesis title: Communication openness in the parent-adult offspring relationship
Deena Sadiky (BS HDFS with honors, 2004)
Honors Thesis title: Association of high school crowd identity and college students’ sexual attitudes and behaviors
Shelley Hosterman (BS Psychology, with honors, 2002)
Honors Thesis title: Reducing the risk: Gender ideology, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviors in emerging adulthood