Alexander Reid graduated from UConn with a Ph.D. in HDFS in 2018. After completing his BA and MA in Psychology at California State University, Northridge (located within walking distance of the home where he grew up), Alex was quite nervous to continue his education on the other side of the country. His nerves were quickly put to rest when he began working with his graduate advisor, Dr. Linda Halgunseth. In addition to being exceptionally friendly, warm, and intelligent, Dr. Halgunseth was very supportive in Alex’s professional development. Alex entered graduate school with the goal of becoming a tenure-track professor at a California State University, where he could teach, conduct research, and mentor students. To support that goal, Dr. Halgunseth provided Alex with many research opportunities and connected him with scholars in the field who shared his research interests. Together they explored how cultural values influence romantic relationship development in adolescence and emerging adulthood, and how contextual factors (e.g., neighborhood, family, peers) influence development and mental health in different cultural groups. Additionally, Alex served as a graduate research associate at UConn’s Center for Applied Research in Human Development where he assisted in the evaluation of Connecticut’s afterschool programs.
Alex’s favorite part of his graduate studies was the many teaching opportunities he had in the HDFS department. He really enjoyed his teaching assistantships with Dr. LaFleur and Dr. Brenick, who helped him develop his pedagogical skills. During his second year, he was thrilled to begin serving as the instructor of record of his own HDFS courses. In addition to teaching in the HDFS Department, Alex also taught one course in UConn’s Psychology Department at the Hartford campus (thank you to Dr. Brenick for the recommendation), and one HDFS course at the University of Saint Joseph in Hartford (thank you to Dr. Brown for the recommendation). Those experiences cemented Alex’s passion for teaching and provided the pedagogical foundation that continues to shape his classes today. During his final year at UConn, Alex was very proud to receive the HDFS Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award.
After graduating from UConn, Alex started his career as a tenure-track faculty member in the Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). He currently serves as an associate professor in what is now CSUB’s HDFS Department, where he teaches, conducts research, and mentors students. As the department’s Open Educational Resources (OER) Coordinator, Alex advocates for affordable and accessible education. He is especially proud that every course in CSUB’s HDFS program uses OER materials, allowing students to complete the major without purchasing textbooks or course materials.
Outside the classroom, Alex enjoys playing guitar, attending concerts, folding origami, learning magic tricks, and competing in combat robotics tournaments. Since 2023, he has been building and competing with his robotics team at local and national events. He now serves as the faculty advisor for CSUB’s combat robotics club at the Antelope Valley campus. Additionally, he became a member of the board of directors for Southern California Attack Robotics, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting hands-on learning in CAD, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. For Alex, combat robotics is the perfect blend of science, art, and sport, making it a natural extension of his love for teaching. Whether in the classroom or the robotics arena, he enjoys helping students learn, solve problems, and discover new passions.