Marriage & Family Therapy News
Advocating for the needs of transgender families
MFT assistant professor, Deborah Coolhart, Ph.D., LMFT, was one of the first mental health professionals to work with transgender clients in Central New York. She was recently interviewed for the article, “Teens in Transition,” that appeared in The Syracuse New Times in June. Under her leadership, a Transgender Treatment Team was created and continues to provide services in the Central New York community. Her areas of expertise include exploring the relationship between gender transition and life satisfaction, family relationships, social support, and mental health, homeless LGBTQ youth and the emotional processes of family members of transgender people. The article highlights the local transgender community.
Professor Coolhart, along with Maria Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, Hartford Doctoral Fellow in Geriatric Social Work, Assistant Research Professor, Aging Studies Institute, recently released results of a research project they led as principal investigators to understand the experiences of CNY runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth. They assessed the understanding of homeless LGBTQ youth among local service providers, and identified existing services, gaps and barriers affecting runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth.
Falk College offers discussion series during National PTSD Awareness Month in June
To educate the local community about issues related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Falk College will offer a discussion series during the month of June, which is designated as National PTSD Awareness Month to raise public awareness of PTSD and its effective treatments. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood.
These programs, which are free and open to the public, take place in conjunction with the Trauma Research Education for Undergraduates (REU) program, a joint effort by Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY Oswego to improve access to research experiences for groups typically underrepresented in research. The speakers featured during this series include:
Thom deLara, professor of practice, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University Falk College, “A contextual framework for understanding trauma,” June 8, 1:30 p.m., Hall of Languages, Room 201.
Kyle Posemmato, Ph.D., clinical research psychologist, acting associate director for research, Syracuse V.A. Center for Integrated Healthcare(CIH), “Clinical Research with Military Veterans with PTSD and Substance Abuse.” June 15, 1:30 p.m., Hall of Languages, Room 201.
Douglas Scaturo, Ph.D., private practice clinical psychologist who recently retired from Syracuse VA Medical Center, with academic appointments with SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse University and SUNY Oswego, “Combat Stress,” June 23, 1:30, Hall of Languages, Room 201.
Supported by the grant, “National Science Foundation Research Education for Undergraduates NSF REU Site: Training diverse teams of Veterans and non-Veterans to study trauma in Veterans,” the REU program spans one year. Students attend an intensive four-week summer program during June that includes coursework, mentored student-faculty interaction, and the development of a research project. Students conduct their research under the continued mentorship of REU faculty during the following Fall semester. Students, with their mentors, present research findings in the following Spring at a national or international conference. For undergraduates interested in pursuing a graduate education, it is sometimes difficult to find meaningful research experiences and mentoring. This program provides research training to increase skills in conducting trauma research while increasing a student’s ability to gain admission to competitive graduate programs. For more information about the speakers or REU program, contact Ivan Castro (iecastro@syr.edu).
Learn more about the REU program
Congratulations Class of 2015!
Falk College will celebrate the Class of 2015 and its accomplishments on Saturday, May 9 at 4:00 p.m., Manley Field House. Falk College’s Class of 2015 includes 312 undergraduates, 142 master’s candidates and 27 students earning Certificates of Advanced Study. Four Ph.D. students will receive their hoods symbolizing the highest level of degree achievement. A baccalaureate degree in public health will be awarded posthumously to Sabrina Cammock.
Falk College Marshals
Sam Rodgers, Nutrition
Aziza Mustefa, Public Health
Undergraduate Department Marshals
Francheska Bravo, Child & Family Studies
Mary Briggman, Nutrition
Will Fancher, Nutrition Science
Lisa Cianciotta, Public Health
Leah Elsbeck, Social Work
Scott Kevy, Sport Management
Graduate Department Marshals
Rachel Linsner, Child & Family Studies
Codina Haselmayer, Marriage & Family Therapy
Anna Riverso, Nutrition Science
Nicole Schwartz, Public Health
Ethan Lewis, Social Work
Justin Brown, Sport Management
Falk College Settles into New Home
Within hours of the opening of a student lounge—one of several community spaces—in the new Falk Complex earlier this semester, students were making it their own.
“The students went in there and they started moving around the furniture, making areas for collaboration,” recalls Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy. “Every time you go down there the furniture is placed in different ways as they need them.”
They’ve been making it their home.
Students, along with faculty and staff, are settling in to the new site of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in the Falk Complex at MacNaughton and White halls, which formerly housed the College of Law.
Public health and nutrition major Aziza Mustefa ’15 appreciates how the new complex is bringing together students from the various disciplines.
“I love the Falk Complex! It brings unity among all the majors in the college, and creates a community,” she says. “The student lounges allow students to congregate and build meaningful relationships throughout our college career. It’s convenient and easily accessible to our classes, professors and Falk Student Services.”
All together for the first time
This is the first time all the college’s disciplines will be in one location—“so it is the big coming home,” Dean Murphy says. The central administration offices had previously been housed at 119 Euclid Ave., so that had been the centralized location for many gatherings, while the various departments had sites across campus.
The transition to move the various departments and administrative offices began over Winter Break and continues into the fall as the renovations wrap up.
The new centralized location allows faculty members to have more impromptu “watercooler conversations,” visits in the hallways and additional opportunities for inspired collaboration.
“Faculty members have come together over the years to do interdisciplinary work, especially through the work of the College Research Center, but this does make it more convenient and maybe more spontaneous,” Dean Murphy says. “I’ve heard the faculty saying—and I feel the same way—it’s just nice to run into colleagues in the halls, and not have to go outside or drive.”
The new community spaces in the Falk Complex have expanded those opportunities for faculty in the various disciplines to be engaged with each other.
Three years of planning
It’s those types of ideas that went into more than three years of planning for the convergence of Falk College’s five academic departments and its administrative offices.
Surveys were done with students, faculty and staff to help understand what the needs were and what could be included within the budget. Plans were developed through the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction, project architect Ashley McGraw and design partner Gilbert Displays.
“We studied the building and then we figured out the spaces with the various department chairs,” Dean Murphy says.
Each academic unit has an office with the department chair, graduate and undergraduate studies directors, and administrative assistants. Faculty members are assigned nearby offices.
In January, the move included the Office of the Dean, admissions, advancement, the college’s information technology office, the Department of Child and Family Studies, Public Health and the School of Social Work. In March, the Office of Student Services was set up.
The first move in January involved transferring the spaces for 94 people, with 5,169 boxes transferred in a day and a half by the movers, according to Dianne Seeley, Falk College’s senior administrator of operations, space and facilities, who has been part of the renovation process and has overseen the moving. Four hundred computers were also set up by informational technology staff members in five days.
Making the move
This month, the Department of Sport Management and the College Research Center will be moved into their new spaces. Throughout the summer and into the fall, the food studies and nutrition programs, will make the move, which includes reconstruction of the fifth floor for the commercial and experiential kitchens.
The Nutrition Science and Dietetics Program will also have a new nutrition assessment lab, where they will examine the nutrients in food. The lab will be finished this summer.
Additionally, the commercial kitchens and teaching kitchens, along with a multipurpose teaching café/classroom, will be moving in and built up through late August and finished in early fall. The kitchens will offer a state-of-the-art learning facility with technology and kitchen equipment. The kitchen and café/classroom will support the academic programs of nutrition and food studies.
For the Department of Sport Management, a new lab will teach the technology of sports and events operations. There will also be a ticketing classroom with associated technology to learn about ticketing for large sports facilities. This will also include a business arrangement with the Carrier Dome to allow students to be hired and assist in ticketing.
Along with the various departments, the Falk Complex has three computer labs and a Mac lab, which is new for the college. Other renovations have included technology upgrades to many classrooms, along with new carpeting, paint and signage.
“We now have a showpiece, an extraordinary learning environment serving all our academic degrees. Everybody feels lifted coming in the front door,” Murphy says.
A grand opening of the new Falk Complex is planned for September.
“I am excited for future students to come and enjoy the Falk Complex. Dr. Murphy has exciting plans for the college, like the cafe on the second floor. She wants the best for Falk students,” Mustefa says. “Although I am graduating, I am excited that Falk continues to grow every year.”
Aziza Mustefa College Marshal Reflection
Good afternoon and congratulations to the Falk College Class of 2015. I want you all to know how honored I am to be standing here. Thank you to my family, my classmates, my friends, and the esteemed faculty and administration for joining us on this joyous day.
I can’t begin my speech without remembering our classmate Sabrina Cammock. Sabrina was one of my dearest friends, a stellar track runner, a brilliant student, and a woman who used her gifts for the greater good. Even though she is not with us today, she is in our hearts and I hope we can keep Sabrina’s memory alive.
Today we celebrate the triumph of completing our college education. Graduating from the David B Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics means that we will be using our education to give back to our communities. In a couple of days, we all are returning to our communities or joining new ones. As Falk graduates, I encourage you all to act on the vision of David and Rhonda Falk. To quote Mr. Falk,
“Global concerns for critical societal issues like childhood obesity, substance abuse, elder care, and malnutrition are at an all-time high. We need dedicated professionals who are committed and willing to give of their time and of themselves. The Falk College’s unique combination that pairs social responsibility and service with experiential learning means students will be well trained to address society’s most pressing issues, finding themselves both where the jobs are—and where they are most needed.”
Now we are the dedicated professionals moving into society to make a difference because, throughout our college careers, social responsibility and community service have been instilled in us. And, we have the tools and knowledge to make a difference. We all embody Scholarship in Action because we know that one person can change lives, neighborhoods and the world.
As we close this chapter in our lives, a new one begins. Before you leave here today, I want you all to recall your fondest memories and experiences at SU. Remember those who were there for you, remember the support from Falk College, and remember how special you are. We all have this bond that unites us.
I encourage you all to dare to dream big, and most importantly don’t shy away from using your gifts. You and I have the power to create positive change in the world and we will.
Public meeting on housing experiences of LGBTQ youth in Central New York to be held May 4
Recent research conducted by two Syracuse University faculty members, working collaboratively with community agencies, indicates the most important issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified (LGBTQ) youth in the Central New York (CNY) community are bullying, family acceptance, self-acceptance, and having to leave home. Additionally, the two issues believed to most likely put LGBTQ youth at risk of homelessness are parental physical or emotional abuse and being forced to leave home because of LGBTQ identity. The study’s complete findings will be shared at a public meeting on the housing experiences of LGBTQ youth from the CNY community on Monday, May 4, 3:30 p.m. The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held at Peck Hall, 601 East Genesee Street. Free parking is available.
The research project entitled, “Housing and LGBTQ Youth: A Mixed-Methods Community Needs Assessment,” is led by Falk College principal investigators Deb Coolhart, PhD, LMFT, Assistant Professor, Marriage and Family Therapy and Maria Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, Hartford Doctoral Fellow in Geriatric Social Work, Assistant Research Professor, Aging Studies Institute. In addition to understanding the experiences of CNY runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth, the investigators assessed the understanding of homeless LGBTQ youth among local service providers, and identified existing services, gaps and barriers affecting runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth. Interviews indicate many youth often have negative experiences in the shelter system and sometimes engage in dangerous activities to avoid using them. Surveyed LGBTQ youth and service providers feel there is a need for LGBTQ-specific shelters or safe and stable housing beyond shelters.
During the summer of 2013, the Syracuse/Onondaga County Youth Bureau contacted the Falk College Research Center about homelessness among LGBTQ youth. To date, available research on homeless LGBTQ youth has been done in large cities, providing little information about the unique experiences and needs of homeless LGBTQ youth elsewhere. The project received seed grant funding from Falk College and includes collaboration with ACR Health Youth Services and the Q Center, the Syracuse/Onondaga County Youth Bureau, and the Salvation Army.
Findings from this study will result in several published manuscripts and provide data to Q Home agencies for applications to fund services for homeless LGBTQ youth. For more information about the event and the research project, contact Deb Coolhart, dcoole@syr.edu or Maria T. Brown, mbrown08@syr.edu.
RSVP to attend
Falk College announces classes for 2015 summer sessions
Beginning with Maymester and spanning Summer Session I and II, Falk College will offer numerous courses for students on campus, as well as some online. In addition, Falk College will offer a series of one week courses during the summer in its Marriage and Family Therapy and Social Work programs. A list of Falk 2015 summer courses is available here, although students should consult Myslice for up-to-date information on course offerings and cancellations, as well as detailed course descriptions.
Register now for MFT 400 – Introduction to Couple and Family Therapy
In the next ten years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the profession of marriage and family therapy will grow at an unprecedented 30 percent rate, much faster than other occupations. And U.S. News and World Report recently listed marriage and family therapists as one of the top healthcare professions. In MFT 400, students will get a good feel for the profession of marriage and family therapy through topics including professional issues, major theories and techniques, and basic couple and family therapy skills. This three-credit course is ideal for students who will be juniors or seniors in Fall 2015 considering marriage/couple and family therapy as a field of professional study, and for those who may work with individuals and families in other professional fields (e.g., child welfare, social work, education, healthcare, law).
Fall 2015
MFT 400 – Introduction to Couple and Family Therapy
Monday & Wednesday, 5:15 – 6:35 p.m.
White Hall, Room 200
For additional information contact:
Beth Sotherden (bsotherd@syr.edu)
Department of Marriage and Family Therapy | 315-443-9329
Falk College Community Meet-and-Greet with Dean Murphy
Dear Falk Undergraduate and Grad. Students,
Please join Falk College Dean, Diane Lyden Murphy, and your classmates for a Falk Student Community Meet-and-Greet. A date will be scheduled after Spring Break. Dean Murphy is interested in hearing your ideas about student needs in our new building. What would you like to see in the student lounge? What makes your study space ideal? Hear about renovations in-the-works, including space for student services, food services, and collaborative learning.
Pizza, salad and soda will be served!
Share your suggestions via email.
MFT announces Summer 2015 course offerings
The Department of Marriage and Family Therapy will offer a variety of courses this summer, including offerings during Maymester, Summer Session I and Summer Session II. All courses meet at: 601 East Genesee Street, Peck Hall.
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