HDFS professor Rebecca Puhl is the recipient of the Obesity Society’s 2018 TOS Scientific Achievement Award, in recognition of her excellence in her research career.
Faculty
HDFS faculty and grad students present at SRA conference
Nine HDFS graduate students and seven HDFS faculty gave 23 presentations at the 2018 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), which was held in Minneapolis, MN, April 11-15, 2018. See the list of the participants (UConn HDFS is indicated in bold and students are indicated with *).
Kate Dibble and Keith Bellizzi receive research award


Congratulations to graduate student Kate Dibble and Associate Professor Keith Bellizzi, who recently received a research award from the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (CTBHI). The project is titled “Genetic counseling for BRCA1/2 mutations: Patient experiences, preferences and outcomes of counseling,” and seeks to examine preferences for individual-based or family centered genetic counseling as well as capturing patient reported outcome data on quality of life, overall health and perceived cancer risk following a positive genetic test result.
Keith serves as PI on the grant, but, in Keith’s words, “Kate developed the project to fund her dissertation research, with mentoring from me”.
Michael Ego featured on NBC Sports and Golf Channel
Professor Michael Ego was recently interviewed on the Golf Channel by Jimmy Roberts in a piece entitled, “How sports can help those with memory loss”.
Watch the video here.
Linda Halgunseth Co-Author in SRCD Latino Caucus Brief article
Associate Professor Linda Halgunseth co-authored an SRCD Latino Caucus Brief on separating children from their parents at the border. Read the article entitled, “The Science is Clear: Separating Families has Damaging Psychological and Health Consequences” in UConn Today.
HDFS faculty and grad student present their work at ISSBD conference
HDFS faculty and graduate students presented at the 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD). The event took place in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia on July 15-19, 2018. Here is a list of the participants.
Study with the Human Rights Campaign featured in the Washington Post


Professor Rebecca Puhl and Assistant Professor Ryan Watson‘s study with the Human Rights Campaign was recently covered in the Washington Post & the Boston Globe, among other outlets.
HDFS faculty newly promoted and tenured




The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) acknowledged four HDFS faculty who received tenure this year: Dr. Alaina Brenick, Dr. Linda Halgunseth (both were promoted to Associate Professor), Dr. Marlene Schwartz, and Dr. Rebecca Puhl.
Laura Donorfio receives two university teaching awards

Associate Professor Laura Donorfio received the 2018-2019 University Teaching Fellows Award from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Laura will be partnering with CETL over the course of the next academic year on workshops and events through CETL.
Laura is also the recipient of the 2018 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Excellence in Teaching Award in Behavioral and Life Sciences.
Laura is an exceptional instructor, highly dedicated to the education of our students, particularly in Waterbury, not only through her classroom instruction, but through the many other advising and enrichment opportunities that she provides to students. In the words of one of her colleagues, Laura “engages students that most professors underestimate, and she inspires student learning to a level most teachers never reach.” And in the words of one of her former students, “I look up to Dr. Donorfio for her caring nature, her work ethic, and her contribution to UConn and HDFS. I highly encourage all of my friends and peers at UConn to take her classes because I have learned more from Dr. Donorfio than any syllabus and class description could ever suggest. She taught us how to be responsible, hardworking, free-thinking, and open-minded members of society and individuals.”
Steven Wisensale’s article published on UConn Today
Professor Steven Wisensale’s article on Baseball Diplomacy and Japan-U.S. Relations published on UConn Today.