The Department of Human Development and Family Science in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics recently honored several undergraduate and graduate students with department awards.
“You’ve poured your time, your energy, your compassion, and your curiosity into a field that is as demanding as it is deeply meaningful,” Undergraduate Director and Professor of Practice Colleen Cameron told the students at the awards ceremony.
“What you’ve chosen to study goes far beyond textbooks. You’ve explored the complexities of human relationships, the resilience of families, and the beauty of development across the lifespan,” Cameron added. “You’ve learned how to meet people where they are, how to listen with intention, and how to support others through life’s most challenging and rewarding moments. That’s no small feat.”
The Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) recognizes the outstanding work of the following students:
Undergraduate Awards
Bernice M. Wright Memorial Award
Recipient: Cooper Knoll
About Cooper: Throughout Cooper’s time at Syracuse, he has received multiple honors, including the HDFS Outstanding Freshman Award, the Success Scholar Award, the Orange Distinction Award, and membership in the Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society. He has served on the Dean’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and participated in the Falk New York City immersion trip. His academic journey has been deeply enriched by hands-on experiences, from interning at the Bernice M. Wright Lab School and AccessCNY, to working at the Golisano Center for Special Needs, where he supported children with neurodevelopmental disorders through behavioral strategies and one-on-one interventions. His experiences have reinforced his passion for inclusive education and child advocacy.
Elizabeth Manwell Memorial Award
Recipient: Reese Kutin
About Reese: Throughout her academic career, Reese has consistently earned Dean’s List honors. She has built a strong foundation in healthcare through hands-on clinical experiences at medical institutions, including St. Joseph’s Health Hospital, New York University Langone Health, and SUNY Upstate Medical Hospital. Her volunteer and internship work in both pediatric and surgical settings has deepened her passion for nursing and strengthened her commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care. Reese believes nursing is a unique opportunity to blend science, empathy, and human connection to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives. As she faces the challenges and rewards that come with the responsibility of caring for others in healthcare settings, she will be an extraordinary advocate for the psychosocial well-being of patients and their families.
Florence B. Potter Memorial Award
Recipient: Nicole Serrano
About Nicole: At the heart of every role Nicole has undertaken—whether in the classroom or community— is her steadfast commitment to service. Her education has deepened her understanding of how meaningful relationships and intentional support can impact lives. Nicole has seen firsthand how acts of care and encouragement can foster supportive relationships. Nicole has a natural ability to meet others where they are, with compassion and reliability, and ensuring all feel seen, valued, and supported.
Ruth Tolley Award
Recipient: Anna Lupardo
About Anna: Anna is part of the Renée Crown Honors Program and has consistently earned a spot on the Dean’s List. With a passion for understanding people and making a difference in their lives, Anna realized she wanted to dedicate her career to serving our nation’s veterans and military families. Her hands-on experiences range from human resources internships and early childhood education to freelance writing and social media management. She has been actively involved in research, community engagement, and DEI education. This fall, Anna will intern with Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic at the Syracuse College of Law as part of her HDFS practicum. Her focus on justice involvement, chronic pain, and behavioral health among U.S. veterans is commendable, and we look forward to her bright future in law.
Selleck Award / HDFS Undergraduate Department Marshal
Recipient: Alexandria Rae Fabrizi
About Alexandria: “Ali” is a Gilman Scholar, a past recipient of the Ruth Tolley Award, and a member of prestigious societies such as the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Kappa Omicron Nu. Throughout her academic journey, she has participated in several enriching experiences, including studying abroad at the University of Sydney in Australia, where she engaged with local youth in foster care. She has completed multiple internships that have provided her with hands-on experience in youth and human development, including roles at the Golisano Center for Special Needs, ARISE Adaptive Design, and Hope for Bereaved. These internships have allowed Ali to contribute meaningfully in areas such as behavioral analysis, grief management, and adaptive equipment design. Her experiences at Syracuse University have shaped her professional goals and fueled her passion for supporting children and families, especially those facing adversity.
Shannon Davis Memorial Award / Falk College Scholar
Recipient: Grace Elizabeth Brashears
About Grace: Throughout Grace’s academic journey, she has maintained a strong commitment to academic excellence, community service, and leadership. Grace is a Success Scholar and recipient of the Robert B. Menschel Public Service Award. Grace’s experience spans across a variety of internships and research roles, most notably as a Child Life Specialist practicum student at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, where she supported pediatric patients and their families through therapeutic play and emotional support. Additionally, Grace has worked with the Children’s Advocacy Center in Michigan, focusing on forensic interviews for child survivors of sexual violence, and at the Children’s Healing Center, where she helped create social-emotional programs for immunocompromised children. Beyond internships, Grace has been deeply involved in community service and campus leadership. As Executive Director of OttoTHON, she led fundraising efforts to benefit Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Graduate Awards
Alice Sterling Honig Award / Graduate School Outstanding Teaching Assistant
Recipient: Ying Xu
About Ying: This award, which is presented to a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in child development and family studies, recognizes the legacy of HDFS Professor Emerita Alice Sterling Honig. Ying is active in research on children and families, and her first-authored paper, “Intergenerational Transmission of Corporal Punishment: A Systematic Review,” was recently accepted by “Trauma, Violence, and Abuse.” She is working with HDFS faculty on several other publications focused on adverse childhood experience, grandparent caregiving, and intergenerational relationships.
The Graduate School Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award is a University-wide award that recognizes teaching assistants who have made distinguished contributions to Syracuse University by demonstrating excellence in significant instructional capacities.
HDFS Doctorate Award for Research Excellence
Recipient: Wusirige
About Wusirige: The HDFS Doctorate Award for Research Excellence is presented to a doctoral student who has excelled in academic achievement, research practice, and leadership. Wusirige recently published a paper on marital satisfaction and co-parenting in infancy, and has several other papers under review that focus on parenting stress and satisfaction and other processes for families in Gyana and Jamaica.
HDFS Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award
Recipient: Morgan Parella
About Morgan: This award is presented to a graduate student who demonstrates a strong commitment to teaching and learning. Morgan was nominated for her work as a teaching assistant, and her supervisor for the course writes: “Morgan played a significant role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the course. She was an exceptionally effective and timely grader, providing students with clear, constructive feedback that supported their learning. Just as importantly, Morgan made herself consistently available to students, responding to questions with care and clarity. Her dependability, attention to detail, and student-centered approach were instrumental in helping students meet the learning goals of the course.”
Graduate School Marshal / All-University Doctoral Prize / Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence for Graduate Student Research
Recipient: Qingyang Liu
About Qingyang: Selection of the Graduate School Marshal is based on a review of nominees’ research and other academic accomplishments, as well as consideration of the student’s past service to the department and University. The marshal assists with hooding fellow Ph.D. candidates during the hooding ceremony and will lead the Ph.D. candidates into Syracuse University’s Commencement ceremonies. Qingyang has an extensive publication record focused on poverty, adversity, and children’s self-regulation. She recently defended her dissertation entitled “Behavioral Self-Regulation in Context: Timing, Types, and Changes of Material Hardship Across Childhood.” Her work utilizes innovative statistical methods and has strong policy implications.
For her excellence in research, Qingyang also received the All-University Doctoral Prize and the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence for Graduate Student Research, two prestigious university-wide honors.
HDFS Graduate Department Marshal
Recipient: Linghua Jiang
About Linghua: The graduate marshal’s primary role is to lead the department in the Falk College Convocation. Linghua has a distinguished record of research in adolescent development with several publications in high-ranking journals. Her work makes use of advanced methods such as latent class analysis and the time-varying effect model, and she seeks to understand associations between adverse childhood experiences and mental health. She recently defended her dissertation entitled “Exploring the Longitudinal Impact of Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Later Psychological Outcomes.” She completed her dissertation while serving as an instructor for our adolescent development class.