In the News
Dr. Jamie Wu co-authored an article in Crain's Detroit, "Opinion: Affordable, accessible child care is as vital as safe infrastructure."
Dr. Sarah Dunkel-Jackson was recently named on the Hockey New's annual change maker list for her work with Hockey Challenge Camp.
Dr. Sarah Dunkel-Jackson was featured in The Center for Community Engaged Learning's 2025-2024 Index for her work with adaptive youth sports programming.
Drs. Amanda Guinot-Talbot and Erica Tobe discussed financial trauma and family influences around money on the MSUFCU podcast.
Publications
Dr. Erica Mitchell published "Staying Together After Infidelity: An Exploration of the Decision-Making Process of Recovery From the Perspective of the Injured Partner," published in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
Dr. Anissa Eddie, PhD alumna published article "Strategies to foster healthy ethnic-racial identity in infants and toddlers,” in the Winter 2025 issue of Young Children with co-authors Drs. Holly Brophy-Herb, Sarah Douglas and Claire Vallotton.
Ibrahim Luberenga and Dr. Lekie Dwanyen published their article, "Characteristics of mental health awareness programmes for workplace well-being in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review," in BMJ Public Health.
Dr. Ryan Bowles published article, "Investigating the Impact of Preschool Writing Instruction on Early Writing Development: Attention to Instructional Focus and Strategy," in the Scientific Studies of Reading.
A team of researchers, including Dr. Andrea Wittenborn, published “Modifiers in Effects of Combined Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy versus Pharmacotherapy Alone for Adult Depression: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis,” in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
Dr. Sarah Douglas and HDFS grad student co-authors published “Emotions, stress, and coping for caregivers of individuals with down syndrome: A meta-synthesis of qualitative
research,” in the Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Dr. Sarah Douglas and a team of other researchers published “Family functioning among adolescents with developmental disabilities utilizing augmentative and alternative communication,” in Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.
Dr. Sarah Douglas and a team of other researchers published “Paraeducator training to support students' behavioral needs: Administrator, teacher, and paraeducator perspectives,” in the Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions.
Dr. Sarah Douglas co-authored “Friendship experiences of children with
neurodevelopmental disabilities and their peers: A meta-synthesis,” in Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.
Dr. Emilie Smith served on a National Academies Consensus Report that was published in November on the Future of Youth Development.
Alumni
Dr. Anissa Eddie, spring 2025 PhD alumna, named Director of Foundation-led Initiatives at the Steelcase Foundation.
Grants, Awards and Recognitions
Dr. Erica Mitchell has been appointed by the governor to the Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.
PI Dr. Jamie Wu and Co-PI Dr. Linda Halgunseth received a grant from MiLEAP and Clinton County for the Evaluation of Michigan State–Funded 32n Out-of-School Time Programs, with annual funding of $500,000.
Dr. Jamie Wu received a $2.6 million grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential to continue to serve as the official evaluator of these programs for community learning centers across the state.
Prince Owusu received the 2026 Michigan State University College of Social Science Research Scholars Award.
Chandani Bhandari received the 2026 spring semester Corey Endowment Award.
Holly Oehme, Early Childhood and Family Policy grad student, has been awarded the Early Childhood and Family Policy Fellowship.
