Graduate Student Alumni

We are proud to showcase our accomplished HDFS graduate alumni who represent our department across diverse careers both nationally and internationally. We encourage you to view their impressive profiles to get a better idea of the professional opportunities and career trajectories for our students.

Doctoral Alumni

DeAnna Bay, Ph.D., ‘23
Assistant Professor, HDFS
Eckerd College
Aysha Mabin, Ph.D., ‘23
Research Analyst III
Volunteers of America Los Angeles
Sanum Shafi, Ph.D., ‘23
Assistant Professor of Psychology
SUNY Delhi
Gregory A Kovacs, Ph.D., '22
Counseling
Private Practice
Xiaoyan Zhang, Ph.D., '22
Assistant Professor
Singapore Management University
Lei Jin, Ph.D., '22
Assistant Professor
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Dickson Mukara Matsantsa Ong'ayi, Ph.D., ‘22
Global Youth and Family Strengthening Specialist
Bethany Christian Services
Ying Zhang, Ph.D., '21
Assistant Professor
Clarkston University
Staceyann Barbett Reid, Ph.D., '21
Teaching Fellowship
PRODIG-Psychology
SUNY Oswego
Jennifer King, Ph.D., '20
Founder and Clinical Director
The Center for Collaborative Family Therapy
Odetta Addo Odartey, Ph.D., '20
Student Assistant Counselor
CONTACT Community Services
Rodlyn Remina Hines, Ph.D., '20
Assistant Professor of Child and Family Studies Psychology and Human Services
SUNY Empire State University
Yue Zhang, Ph.D., '18
UX Researcher
Google
Woosang Hwang, Ph.D., '18
Assistant Professor, HDFS
Texas Tech University
Jason Chiang, Ph.D., '18
Faculty and Researcher
University of North Texas
Mark A Primus, Ph.D. '18
Assistant Professor
Nazareth College
Kai Sun, Ph.D., '18
Assistant Teaching Professor of Psychology
Arizona State University
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Science
Kimberly Raymond, Ph.D., '18
Qualitative Research Scientist
QualityMetric
Robert E Myers, Ph.D., '17
President and CEO
Partners in Franciscan Ministries
Dimple Praful Vadgama, Ph.D., '17
Assistant Clinical Professor
Texas Woman's University
Sangita Pudasainee-Kapri, Ph.D., '17
Assistant Professor
Rutgers University
Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden
Christina Bobesky, Ph.D., '16
Associate Professor, Department Chair, and Program Director
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
LeMoyne College
Nicole Elizabeth Conroy, Ph.D., '16
Assistant Professor
Department of Leadership and Developmental Sciences
College of Education & Social Services
The University of Vermont
Kimberly Leah Davidson, Ph.D., '16
Assistant Professor
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
College of Education & Human Services
Central Michigan University
Melinda Ramzel, Ph.D. '16
Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education
Department of Education & Human Development
Cañada College
Elif Dede Yildirim, Ph.D., '16
Data Scientist
The National Institutes of Health
Bora Jin, Ph.D., '15
Director, Postdoctoral Fellow
Counseling Group Jung In Haeng, Korea
Margaret J. Lane, Ph.D., '15
Assistant Professor
Department of Social Work
The College at Brockport (SUNY)
Mark D. Thomas, Ph.D., M.P.A., '15
Executive Director for Population Health and Well-Being
MITRE Center for Transforming Health
MITRE Health
Diana Finn Baker, Ph.D., '14
School Psychologist
Marcellus Central School District
Chandice Haste-Jackson, Ph.D., '13
Associate Dean
Student Services
Syracuse University, Falk College
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Human Development & Family Science
Yan Wang, Ph.D., '13
Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology
College of Public Health and Health Professions
University of Florida
Darshini Roopnarine, M.S.W., Ph.D., '13
Assistant Dean, Student Development
Director, Collegiate Science Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)
Director, Science Technology Entry Program (STEP)
Le Moyne College
Megan Lape, Ph.D., '13
Mental Hygiene Program Evaluation Specialist
New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH)
Ann Sheedy, L.M.S.W., Ph.D., '13
Chief Operating Officer
Cayuga Centers
Desalyn De-Souza, Ph.D., '12
Dean, Associate Professor
Department of Child and Family Studies
School of Human Services
SUNY Empire State College
Jodi Canfield, Ph.D., '12
Assistant Athletic Director
Coordinator of Sport Studies and Exercise Science minor
St. Lawrence University
Melissa Neal, Ph.D., '10
Adjunct Instructor
Distance Learning, ECE Online
College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services
University of Cincinnati
Melanie E. Keyes, Ph.D., CFLE, '05
Professor
Department of Psychological Science
Eastern Connecticut State University
Kwanghee Jung, Ph.D., '05
Assistant Research Professor
National Institute for Early Education Research
Rutgers University
Shauna Harps, Ph.D., '05
Senior Study Director
Westat
Suzanne M. Flannery Quinn, Ph.D., F.H.E.A., C.P.S.I., '03
Manager for the Americas
KOMPAN Play Institute
KOMPAN U.S.
Arti Joshi, Ph.D., '02
Professor
Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
School of Education
The College of New Jersey
Mihaela Robila, Ph.D., '02
Professor
Human Development and Family Science
Department of Family, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences
Queens College, City University of New York
Leslie Couse, Ph.D., '01
Executive Director of Engagement and Faculty Development
Professor, Early Childhood Special Education
University of New Hampshire
Smita Mathur, Ph.D., '00
Associate Professor
Department of Early, Elementary & Reading Education
College of Education
James Madison University
Silvia Pereira da Cruz Benetti, Ph.D., '99
Teacher and Researcher
Department of Psychology
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Mary Riposo, Ph.D., L.M.H.C., R.M.T., '99
Co-Owner and Wellness Director
Infinite Light Center for Yoga & Wellness
Holly E. Brophy-Herb, Ph.D., IMH-E® (IV), '96
Professor
Infant Mental Health Mentor-Research
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Michigan State University
Jonathan Gibralter, Ph.D., '96
President
Wells College
Ziarat Hossain, Ph.D., '92
Professor & Regents' Lecturer
Department of Individual, Family and Community Education (IFCE)
College of Education
University of New Mexico
Sandy Caron, Ph.D., '86
Professor of Family Relations and Human Sexuality
School of Educational Leadership, Higher Education and Human Development
College of Education and Human Development
University of Maine
Katherine Allen, Ph.D., '84
Professor
Department of Human Development and Family Science
Virginia Tech

Master Alumni

Isabella Barzuna, M.A., ‘23
Assistant Manager
JCC Metro West
Suzanne Elizabeth Holland, M.S., ‘23
Union Organizer-Consultant
Syracuse City Schools
Shuangyue Cue, M.S., '22
Ph.D. Student in HDFS at University of Georgia
McKenna Quinn Farley, M.S., '22
Coordinator at Dallas Independent School District
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
Abigail Rein Picinich, M.S., '22
Research Specialist- Clinical Research
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
Washington University
Dana Gardner, M.A., '22
Head Volleyball Coach
Syracuse Volleyball Club
Yuliia Yastrub, M.A., ‘22
Global Learning Production Specialist
Johnson & Johnson
Sara Alansaari, M.S., '22
Research Specialist - Fulbright Scholar
Department of Community Development - Abu Dhabi
Patricia Kasondra McBride, M.A., '21
Deputy City Clerk at City Hall
City of Syracuse
Kelly Saxton, M.A., '21
Therapeutic Assistant
Sunshine Children's Home and Rehabilitation Center
Taylor Ellis, M.A., '20
Parent Educator
Economic Opportunity Program of Chemung and Schuyler Counties
Abby Connor, M.A., '19
Match Up Specialist
Team Impact, Inc.
Stefani Williams, M.A., ’15
Certified Child Life Specialist
Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children
Amanda DiLello, M.S., '06
Assistant Vice President of Provider Relations & Network Development
Care Design NY
Teresa Schoell, M.A., C.C.L.S., '01
NICU/Palliative Care/Complex Care Child Life Specialist
Wegmans Child Life Program
Golisano Children's Hospital
University of Rochester Medical Center