Current Students
Doctoral Students
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Bailey Grey M.S. Social Work, Washburn University Hometown: Valley Falls, Kansas Professional Interests: Adolescents, adolescent self-esteem/self-worth, adolescent suicide/self harm, parent-child relationships Major Professor: Dr. Mindy Markham Personal Interests: Reading, hanging out with my husband and kids, sitting around a bonfire, crafting, and traveling. "I spent a lot of time looking into a doctoral program that I felt really “fit” me. K-State’s program was just that! A nice mesh of research and applied work. The staff have all been phenomenal! They genuinely care about my professional dreams and strive to help me obtain those dreams as well as genuinely care about me as a person." |
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Misti Johnson-Olthoff M.S. Early Childhood Education, Kansas State University Hometown: Kensington, KS Professional Interests: Children birth-5, holistic child development, developmentally appropriate practices in the classroom and childcare settings, building and maintain relationships with children and families, pre-professional early educator development, self-care, mental well-being. Major Professor: Dr. Kristin Anders Personal Interests: Yoga, anything outside, binge reading mindless novels, watching/attending college athletics, rescue beagles, being entertained by my 9-year old son, spending time with my husband, and family. "I was drawn to the program for several reasons, the faculty are knowledgeable, relatable, approachable, genuine, and are people-focused; I feel challenged, yet supported and that’s an environment I thrive in." |
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Jessica Henault M.S. Counseling and Student Development, Kansas State University Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina Professional Interests: The impact of reading erotic fanfiction on college students' sexual exploration and political resistance; sexual and interpersonal violence prevention. Major Professor: Dr. Kristin Anders Personal Interests: Reading, working out, spoiling my four cats. "I chose K-State's Prevention Science program because it was important to me that the department's coursework, practicums, and professional development opportunities are trauma-informed and integrate social justice into the core of prevention initiatives." |
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Sheetal Choudhary M.S. Human Development and Family Studies, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India Hometown: Kurukshetra, Haryana, India Professional Interests: My professional endeavors are dedicated to the eradication of Emotional Teen Dating Violence (TDV). This commitment stems from a deep-seated desire to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies that can be implemented in educational and community settings. By focusing on academic programs, policy advocacy, and direct support systems, I aim to create safer environments where young people can experience respectful and healthy relationships. Major Professor: Dr. Michelle Toews Personal Interests: Cooking Indian vegetarian food, I love applying Heena/Mehandi, In my free time, I love doing nothing and just unwinding completely. "I chose K-State for its dedicated approach toward community-based preventive measures and the opportunity to work under the guidance of renowned professors like Dr. Michelle Toews. The program's focus on practical and impactful research aligns perfectly with my passion for making a difference in the lives of young people affected by emotional abuse." |
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Charissa Trout B.S. Human Development and Family Studies and double minor in Psychology and Early Childhood Education, Penn State 2021 Hometown: Hong Kong, China, recently moved from spouse's hometown of York, Pennsylvania Professional Interests: Father Identity, Father-Child Relationships, Father-Co-Parent/Spouse Relationships Major Professor: Dr. Anthony Ferraro Personal Interests: Reading for pleasure, exploring new areas with my son, and taking care of my plant babies "I chose this program because there aren't many like it, studying prevention and putting it into practice is one of the most (if not the most) important things we can do in this field. There is such a need for preventing and moderating situations and issues before they become crises or interventions, and I am so proud to be a part of this incredible program that is putting boots on the ground." |
Master's Students
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Sharaden Staten B.S. Psychology, University of Central Missouri Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri Professional Interests: I am passionate about exploring how communities influence family development, with a focus on informal learning environments like public libraries. My interests include program evaluation, policy analysis, and the application of life-span perspective theories. Major Professor: Drs. Alisha Hardman & Anthony Ferraro Personal Interests: I enjoy spending time with my wife and son, visiting museums, and finding fun ways to connect with the community. Writing has become a growing interest, and I hope to one day host a rebooted version of Reading Rainbow. "I chose K-State because of the excellent support system they offer to students. From my first visits to working closely with the faculty, it has been clear that they are dedicated to supporting my professional and personal interests. The faculty’s commitment to mentorship and guidance has been invaluable in helping me navigate my academic journey. Also, the program’s emphasis on research that directly impacts communities and improves lives stood out to me. This focus aligns perfectly with my passion for conducting research that makes a difference in real-world settings." |
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Susana Torres B.S. Psychology, University of Idaho Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho Professional Interests: Adolescents, substance abuse, substance abuse with adolescence prevention, parent-child relationships/communication, sexual education Major Professor: Dr. Carol Johnston Personal Interests: Cooking, spending time with family and friends, sleeping, reading, and the occasional hike/run. "When I was applying, the faculty and staff were so attentive to my questions and needs right from the beginning, something that the other schools were not. I was drawn to the faculty's specialties and the program's emphasis on evidence-based interventions and its strong ties to real-world applications." |