Liane Lussier Smith, MSW, LCSW earned her Bachelor of Science in HDFS from UConn with a focus in Counseling and Services in 2002. Taking advantage of multiple internships and the variety of courses within the HDFS program set the stage for learning about new career opportunities. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, Liane worked in early childhood education and special education while working toward a master’s in social work. Liane graduated from UConn School of Social Work in 2007 and was hired as a psychiatric social worker for a child and adolescent outpatient clinic, providing individual and family therapy and reviving the clinic’s outpatient group therapy program. Subsequently, Liane acquired her LCSW and took on leadership roles in supervising and overseeing the group therapy and trauma services programs. During this time, Liane also began hosting social work interns from multiple universities as a practicum instructor – an activity she continued in future positions with other agencies.

Liane has over 15 years of experience working with children, youth, and families in a variety of settings, including clinical, school-based services, community programs, and Youth Service Bureaus. In addition to working in clinical services, Liane had the privilege of running a Teen Center, where she implemented various after school and summer programs aimed at helping young people learn about community service opportunities, prosocial development, and reducing at risk behaviors. She also ran groups at the center and local schools and became involved in other community initiatives through youth outreach efforts, including community gardens, Senior Center programs, the SW Food Alliance, and the local Hunger Action Team. Liane also worked for a second Youth Service Bureau, where she worked with students in an alternative high school program and joined the Juvenile Review Board, providing intake assessments and short-term treatment as part of the community-based diversion program. For the past ten years, Liane has also been an adjunct instructor for the UConn School of Social Work, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses. Throughout her career, Liane has held multiple roles focused on supporting individuals’ mental health, wellness, varying abilities and disabilities, promoting social justice, and utilizing a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach.

Liane’s experience as a practicum instructor and adjunct instructor led her to join the Practicum Education Department at UConn School of Social Work full time, first as a Placement Coordinator and now as Director. She leads a team committed to supporting students’ practicum experiences as the signature pedagogy of social work education and works closely with faculty and agency partners in Connecticut and beyond. Liane has a passion for working with students and is grateful for the opportunity to both witness and support their journey in becoming future social work practitioners. Liane is also grateful for the mentors who helped her get to where she is today and, most importantly, for the social worker mentor who saw things in her she could not see and gave her a nudge into higher education. While continuing to reach new professional goals and pursuing the commitment to life-long learning as a social worker, Liane is proud to be a part of the UConn community that helped shape her professional career and will strive to empower students to see their own strengths and find their true calling.

Annika Anderson, MPH, earned her B.S. in HDFS in 2020 and her Master of Public Health from UConn in 2022. With aspirations in healthcare, Annika appreciated learning about the socioecological model of health in HDFS, which recognizes that 90% of child health outcomes are influenced by a complex interplay of social and structural drivers.

As an undergraduate, Annika interned with the International Rescue Committee and supported Ahlan Simsim (“Welcome Sesame” in Arabic)—the largest early childhood development initiative in humanitarian response, funded by LEGO and the MacArthur Foundation. The program’s innovative combination of direct services and culturally relevant media sparked her interest in teaching children and youth about health and wellness through media. During her graduate studies, Annika proudly authored the PBS KIDS Health & Wellness Learning Framework, which guides producers in creating educational shows, games, podcasts, and other forms of media reaching children ages 2–8 across the United States.

Since completing graduate school Annika has built a career at Connecticut Children’s as an Innovation Specialist in the Office for Community Child Health. She supports Childhood Prosperity Lab, a social innovation incubator and accelerator helping children and families thrive where they live, learn, work, play, and pray. Her work includes facilitating Mastermind sessions for changemakers; training providers on the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework through North Hartford Ascend; co-designing youth- and community-driven initiatives using Human-Centered Design; and co-leading Learning Communities in partnership with the Help Me Grow National Center. Annika’s favorite part of her role is engaging with youth and families.

Annika hopes to pursue a Ph.D. and return to UConn’s HDFS program as a professor, inspiring the next generation of Huskies; she is particularly interested in the program’s new Human Development, Digital Media, and Technology course! Annika credits the HDFS program, especially the Early Childhood Specialization pathway, with profoundly shaping her personal and professional growth. Outside of work, Annika enjoys spending time with loved ones, creating art, reading Breathe magazine, and traveling—her favorite destination to date is Tokyo, Japan.