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 […]

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 […]