Dr. Chanee Fabius is an accomplished researcher and dedicated mentor whose career is dedicated to improving long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults, their families, and the direct care workforce. She earned her PhD in HDFS in 2016 and completed much of her doctoral research training in the Center on Aging at UConn Health. […]

Vanessa Esquivel is a recent graduate of the UConn HDFS PhD program, earning her PhD with specialization in culture and diversity in Spring 2026. Vanessa’s higher education journey began at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, where she earned her associate degree before transferring to the University of Missouri-Kansas City to complete her bachelor’s degree in psychology […]

Jolaade was promoted to Associate Professor effective August, 2026! Dr. Jolaade Kalinowski is a behavioral cardiovascular researcher. Her research focuses on the role of chronic stress and physical activity in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, with a particular focus on Black women. She initially began her research career in the stress and cardiovascular disease realm, but […]

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 […]

Deb Tomasino is a PhD student whose research interests focus on the health and well-being of older adults. She is currently completing her General Exam, and in her dissertation plans to use secondary data to examine associations between falls and individual characteristics among older adults presenting to the emergency department. After completing her PhD coursework, […]

Caitlin joined the UConn HDFS faculty in 2016, and is currently an Associate Professor. She grew up in Maine and attended the University of Vermont (UVM) where she received a B.A. in English and Psychology. While at UVM, her interest in research and the role of policy in child development was sparked through a course […]

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 […]