Kim (Vozzo) Nickolenko ’96 has spent her career doing what she loves most, helping students discover their passions and prepare for life after college. After earning her BS in HDFR from UConn in 1996, Kim continued at UConn to earn her MA in Education while serving as a graduate assistant in the Higher Education and […]

Dr. Marketa Burnett is a developmental psychologist who joined UConn as an Assistant Professor of HDFS and Africana Studies in August 2023. Marketa was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. Early on, it was clear that she was born to be a researcher because she was best known for asking her parents “Why?” fifty […]

Kay Camerato holds both a BA in HDFS and an MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from UConn. As a Connecticut native and first-generation college student, Kay deeply values the experiences and learning opportunities she gained during her time at UConn. To support herself financially while developing transferable skills, Kay actively engaged in a […]

As an undergraduate, Sarah Wen attended the UConn Coordinated Dietetics Program, an accelerated program that provided internships in multiple settings. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and received her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics in 2019. Shortly after graduating, she became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Sarah Wen then started a master’s program in the Nutritional […]

Dr. Keith Bellizzi is a researcher, author, mentor, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of resilience, cancer survivorship, healthy aging, and behavioral science. Trained in HDFS, behavioral medicine, and public health, he joined UConn in 2008 after serving as a Program Officer and Health Scientist at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and completing […]

Congratulations to the 2026 Stamford HDFS Faculty-Student awardees, Hailey Almonte, Shahrin Amin, and Christian DeSouza! The Stamford HDFS Faculty-Student awards are awarded annually to HDFS majors or minors who demonstrate: Academic excellence – Strong performance across all coursework Leadership – Active leadership within the classroom, projects, or department activities Intellectual growth – A commitment to […]

Congratulations to the 2026 undergraduate awardees! Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Involvement in HDFS Research: Elena Falbo Awarded annually in the spring to an undergraduate HDFS major from any campus who has contributed in an outstanding way to research in the field of Human Development and Family Sciences. Research must have been conducted during the student’s […]

The Child Labs participated in PJ Day for the Kids on Friday 12/12. Children, teachers and college students wore pjs and donated money to CT Children’s Medical Center (CCMC). PJ Day for the Kids is a statewide program where children all over CT wear PJs to school to keep children who spend their days in […]

Heather Price has always known she wanted to help others and create meaningful change. As a student at UConn Waterbury, she initially thought the only way to achieve this goal was through direct service as a social worker. During her time in the Human Development and Family Studies program, however, she discovered how comprehensive the […]

Yuanyuan (Sunny) Zhang is an HDFS PhD candidate on track to complete her degree in August 2026. She began her academic journey studying applied psychology at both the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels in China. During her last year of college, while navigating academic stress, she first encountered mindfulness — and the experience left a lasting […]