Shandi Andres started in August in a new position within the department.

Shandi is an instructor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program and the FCCLA Adviser for Kansas. Shandi earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology, Family and Consumer Sciences and a master’s degree in Life Span Human Development. Shandi previously worked as a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Paola High School and most recently as District Extension Director, Family and Consumer Science/4-H Extension Agent for the Flint Hills District. Shandi’s experience has been a great fit for this position, and we are excited to also have closer ties with Kansas FCCLA!

Patricia Barros serves as our new Clinic Director of the Family Center and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Couple and Family Therapy program.

Dr. Barros earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Universidade Catolica de Pernambuco and her Clinical Psychology Specialization from Faculdade de Ciencias Humanas de Olinda, both in Brazil. She then earned three degrees from K-State: a master’s degree in Psychology and a master’s and PhD in Couple and Family Therapy. Before returning to K-State, Patricia served as Clinic Director at the University of Maryland and owned her private practice where she saw clients. We are glad to have you back at K-State, Patricia!

Sara Erickson started in November as a program associate for the Couple and Family Therapy program.

Sara works with all facets of the Couple and Family Therapy program, including working with faculty and graduate students as well as clients at the Family Center, our on-campus clinic. Sara is a proud wildcat, earning her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from K-State. Welcome to the team, Sara!

Alisha Hardman joined us as an Associate Professor in Human Development and Family Science/Prevention Science in August.

Dr. Hardman’s current scholarly pursuits center on applied research about family stress, crisis, and trauma with an emphasis on promoting relational health to prevent and protect against the effects of traumatic and adverse childhood experiences. Dr. Hardman earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from K-State in Family Studies and Human Services and her PhD from the University of Minnesota in Curriculum and Instruction in the Family, Youth, and Community Track. Before returning to K-State, Alisha was an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at Mississippi State University. Welcome back to K-State, Alisha!

Carol Johnston is an Assistant Professor in Human Development and Family Science/Prevention Science.

Dr. Johnston’s research is focused on understanding where and when disruptions occur in childhood that lead to maladaptive trajectories in adolescence and young adulthood. Dr. Johnston earned her bachelor’s degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management and her master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies, both from Texas Tech University, and her PhD from University of North Carolina Greensboro in Human Development and Family Studies. Before coming to K-State, Carol was an Assistant Professor and Qualitative Methodologist at East Carolina University and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. Welcome to the department, Carol!

Laura Rausch rejoined our department as Program Coordinator.

In this role, Laura provides support for faculty, staff, and students across the department and is our go-to person. Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and completed graduate coursework in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Austin Peay State University. Before stepping into this role, Laura held other positions at K-State, including Graduate Program Advisor in our department and Financial Aid Specialist in the Financial Aid Office. Her institutional knowledge and understanding of university processes, policies, and procedures is invaluable. We’re glad to have you back in the department, Laura!

David Rehfeld joined us as an Assistant Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Dr. Rehfeld’s research interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning as well as language and literacy disorders in school-aged children. Dr. Rehfeld earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University, a master’s degree in Special Education with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Texas Tech University, and his PhD in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Learning and Development from Baylor University. He is a nationally certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) and behavior analyst (BCBA). Prior to coming to K-State, David served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma. Welcome to the team, David!

Marcie Lechtenberg served as a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Clinic Director for the Family Center and retired in August 2023. In addition to teaching and supervising student clinicians in the Couple and Family Therapy program, Dr. Lechtenberg also saw clients and oversaw the Family Center. Thank you, Marcie, for all you did during your time at K-State!

Sally Meyer has served as an Instructor in the Early Childhood Education program for over 34 years and retired in December 2023. During Sally’s tenure at K-State she held several roles, including instructor for undergraduate courses, mentor for teacher education practicum experiences, undergraduate advisor, and the program director at Hoeflin Stone House Early Childhood Education Center. Thank you, Sally!

David Thompson has served as a Teaching Associate Professor in the department for over 25 years and retired in January, 2024. Dr. Thompson is an excellent teacher, being nominated for and winning numerous teaching awards, both at K-State and at the state level. Dr. Thompson has been integral in both the Conflict Resolution and Human Development and Family Science programs and has also been recognized as a Champion for Family and Consumer Sciences from the National Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences. Thank you, David, for your service!

Thank you to Marcie, Sally, and David for their time and dedication to Kansas State University. They have positively impacted so many lives during their careers. We wish them the best in their retirement!

• Dr. Johannes received the Samuel J. Crubmine Medal from the Kansas Public Health Association. Dating back to 1946, the Samuel J. Crubmine Medal, KPHA’s highest award, has been given for meritorious service and state, regional, or national recognition related to the improvement of the health of Kansans and/or the environment of the state.
• Dr. Johannes was also recognized with the 2023 North Central Region Award for Individual Excellence in Extension from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities.
• Lastly, Dr. Johannes was awarded the Outstanding Engagement Award by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities Board on Health and Human Sciences. This award recognizes a campus-based or state-level faculty member with exceptional creativity and scholarship in the development, application, and evaluation of outreach, Extension, and public service programs.

Congratulations, Elaine!

Dr. Travis Threats received the Career Achievement Award, which recognizes a Health and Human Sciences graduate who has made outstanding contributions to his or her profession. To be considered for this award, the recipient must have distinguished him/herself nationally or internationally by making positive contributions to society.

Travis T. Threats, Ph.D. is a professor and chair of the Department of Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences. He teaches courses concerning acquired neurogenic communication disorders. His primary scholarly work has been with the World Health Organization, WHO, on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, ICF. He has been the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association representative liaison to the WHO since 1999 and was the primary contributor to the communication, hearing, and swallowing sections of the ICF. Threats was the primary contributor concerning communication disorders for the 2011 World Health Organization publication, World Report on Disability. He was also a consultant on the WHO’s latest update of the International Classification of Diseases.

A published author and internationally known researcher, Threats has been an invited speaker more than 25 times for international conferences, speaking on his other scholarly interests: spirituality/religiosity in rehabilitation, evidence-based practice and rehabilitation ethics. He has presented in Chile, Greece, Portugal, the Philippines, Slovenia, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. He also served as a consultant to the United Arab Emirates for the establishment of their first speech-language pathology program in the country.

Threats is an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Fellow and the ASHA 2012 recipient of the Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contributions in International Achievement. He is also a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow for the National Academies of Practice, a non-profit organization that advocates for interdisciplinary research, practice and public health policy.

He was honored to be named Distinguished Alumnus by the K-State Communication Sciences and Disorders program in 2022. Also in 2022, he was awarded Honors of the Association by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Honors is the highest award this organization gives, recognizing scholars whose contributions have been of such excellence that they have enhanced or altered the course of the professions.

Threats received his bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and Audiology from K-State in 1982.

Jayme Morris-Hardeman received the Public Advocacy Award, which recognizes a person for their impact on issues important to the fields of health and human sciences. To be considered for this award, recipients must have made a significant impact on individuals and families as a result of activity in the public advocacy arena, either as a volunteer or a professional. Recipients also have made contributions to Health and Human Sciences-related issues in the community at large as an elected, appointed, or volunteer leader, including service to organizations and programs.

Jayme Morris-Hardeman serves as the Executive Director of Thrive!, a local poverty-reduction program. Morris-Hardeman joined the staff at Thrive! in 2016 after working as the Executive Director of Sunflower CASA Project for 17 years. Her expertise lies in the areas of non-profit management and finance, strategic planning, volunteer recruitment and retention, and trauma-informed practice.

She has conducted strategic planning sessions for local and statewide non-profit organizations and local and statewide training on volunteer retention, adverse childhood experiences and the impact of trauma on brain development, and working with individuals living in poverty.

She currently serves on the USD 383 Board of Education and served four years as a Manhattan City Commissioner and is active in political advocacy. She is the founder of True Colors, an LGBTQ+ community youth program, and of Serve, a common good incubator for local government. She graduated from K-State with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Biochemistry.

Self-Determination Theory Conference

Dr. Jared Anderson and Doctoral Candidate Brady Eisert presented at the Self-Determination Theory Conference in Orlando, Florida. Their research presentation on Self-Determination Theory’s application to couple’s therapy was well-received and lead to exciting collaborations on this topic!

National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference

Doctoral student, ECE instructor, and Academic Advisor Misti Johnson-Olthoff attended the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Misti was able to network with other early-childhood educators as well as presenting.

Annual International Play Therapy Conference

Several of our Couple and Family Therapy graduate students were able to attend the Annual International Play Therapy Conference in Palm Springs, CA.

Doctoral candidate, Lindsay Howard, LCSW presented her research on play therapy education, as well as a joint project with master’s student, Zenobia Charania focusing on play therapy implications when working with single, working mothers.

This conference provided an opportunity to learn and grow as therapists and an excellent opportunity for our students to network with other professionals in their field.

Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Conference

Drs. Jared Durtschi and Amber Vennum, along with doctoralcandidate Brady Eisert attended the Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Conference in Fall 2023. Brady was able to present his research findings, and Dr. Vennum served on a panel, “Expanding our Reach: Representing Systemic Family Therapy Research in Different Fields.”

National Council on Family Relations

Our department had a strong presence at this
year’sNational Council on Family Relations conference. Faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate students shared their research, being represented in more than 40 conference sessions during the conference with topics including, the impact of COVID-19 on family life, academic leadership, food insecurity, emerging adult development, traumatic experiences and mental health, affordable early care and education, and many more.

Brady Eisert, doctoral student in Couple and Family Therapy, and Dr. Amber Vennum, Associate Professor in Couple and Family Therapy, both received awards during the conference. Brady received the Best Student Paper Award from the Family Therapy Section for his paper, ‘Do Relationship Investment Plans Increase Couples’ Commitment to Therapy?’ Amber was recognized for receiving the Kathleen Briggs Outstanding Mentorship Award. This award acknowledges an outstanding mentor of graduate students and new professionals in the field of marriage and family therapy.

We also held a K-State reception for all current faculty and students as well as alumni. It was great to see and catch up with so many alumni who are now all over the United States. If you plan to attend the conference in Bellevue, Washington in November 2024, please plan to join us for the K-State reception next year!

NASPA Conference

Jessica Henault, a doctoral student in the Prevention Science program, presented at the NASPA Conference in Seattle, WA. A summary of her research: This research stems from a sexual violence university-wide climate survey that was conducted in 2021 at a large public research institution in the Midwest. Graduate students represented 19.6% of the total valid student responses. 39% of graduate students reported experiencing at least one incident of sexual harassment, with polyvictimization rates averaging between four - seven separate incidents. 48% of graduate student survivors reported their perpetrator being a faculty member, with 81% of the incidents occurring on-campus. Overwhelmingly, graduate students reported having limited knowledge of on-campus support services and the Title IX process. This highlights the need for increased protective measures for graduate students, customized trainings highlighting available resources, and strengthening environmental and situational prevention strategies.

Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) Conference

Grace O’Toole, a doctoral student in Prevention Science, attended the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in New Orleans, LA. She did an Oral Presentation on research that was conducted here at K-State with Dr. Anders titled: "So Much Concerning Sex and My Body in General": College Students' Wished for Sexual Health Knowledge Before College.

Grace also had a Poster Presentation on research that she conducted at the University of Central Missouri for her master's thesis titled: Comprehensive Sexual Education in Written Media: How Sexual Content is Discussed in Magazines.

• Brooke Balderson, doctoral student in the Couple and Family Therapy program, was one of 10 winners of Research and the State, a poster forum for K-State graduate students. Her presentation was titled, “How the Role of Self of the Therapist Work in Supervision Impacts Therapeutic Growth and Development.” Brooke will now represent K-State at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit in Topeka in March 2024.
• Jennifer Francois, Professor of Practice in Early Childhood Education, shared that as part of her work with KCCTO their new Infant-Toddler Specialist Network projects were renewed for $1.7 million for a 2nd year. This project is funded by the Kansas Department for Children and Families and is part of our larger Infant-Toddler Specialist Network program. It supports technical assistance and training for childcare providers in 2 areas: 1) supporting children with disabilities in childcare and 2) infant and early childhood mental health.
• Alisha Hardman, Associate Professor in HDFS, has been elected as the new Affiliate Councils president-elect to represent the Affiliate Councils on the National Council on Family Relations.
• Alisha Hardman, Associate Professor of HDFS/Prevention Science, was featured in the Emmy award winning film “On the Farm” from Mississippi State University: https://www.onthefarm.life/
• Elaine Johannes, Extension Specialist and Associate Professor, and colleague, Priscilla Brenes, received $120,000 in grant funding from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Community Clinical Linkages Program to prevent diabetes among Kansans through the implementation of the National Diabetes Program.
• Shelby Jordan, HDFS undergraduate student, recently published a book of poetry retelling her experiences of working through an eating disorder: The Bending and the Breaking (and everything in between).
• The Kansas State Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the organization for students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program, was awarded 2023 Bronze Chapter Honors by the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.  
• Brett Mallon, Conflict Resolution Program Chair, was invited to be a co-editor for a special issue of the Journal of Ethnic Studies, which was published earlier this year. The focus of the issue is a reflection on the Northern Ireland peace process and the Good Friday Agreement, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In addition to co-editing, Brett also contributed two co-authored articles that were included in the special issue.
• Bradford Wiles, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, provided an interview for KSNT about access to quality, affordable, early childhood care and education in Kansas. https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/the-worrisome-state-of-childcare-in-northeastern-kansas/
• Bradford Wiles’ ARCHER (Applied Research in Child Health and Enhancing Resilience) lab signed a contract for $23,582 with Reno County Head Start/USD 308 to conduct their 5-year community assessment in preparation for their next 5-year grant application. This contract has funded a graduate student for the 23-24 academic year.