Ciara Collins

Ph.D., Health, Wellbeing, and Prevention


Entered the Program: 2013

Hometown: Dana Point, CA

Current Program: PhD, Health, Wellbeing, and Prevention

Previous Education:

  • M.A., Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Connecticut, 2015
  • B.A., Psychology, Biola University, 2010

Professional Licenses:

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Connecticut, License #002013

Research Interests:

  • Well-being for children, youth, and families involved in the child welfare system
  • Early childhood education
  • Program evaluation
  • Mixed methods methodology

Advising Committee:

  • Major Advisor: Preston Britner, PhD HDFS
  • Associate Advisor: Beth Russell, PhD HDFS
  • Associate Advisor: Nathanael Okpych, PhD SSW

Degree Milestones:

  • March, 2018 – Comprehensive Exam
  • April 2019 – Dissertation Proposal Defense

Book Chapter:

  • Britner, P. A., & Collins, C. M. (2018). Permanent and formal connections: Mentors, community services, and connectedness. In E. Trejos-Castillo & N. Trevino-Schafer (Eds.), Handbook of foster youth (pp. 473-487). New York: Routledge.

Assistantship Experience:

  • Mixed Methods Analyst for Connecticut MIECHV Needs Assessment (Jul 2019-Present)
  • Project Manager for Evaluation of Local Head Start/Early Head Start Programs (Nov 2013-Aug 2019)
  • Project Manager for Evaluation of UConn Rising Scholars Program (Sep 2013-Jun 2019)
  • Teaching Assistant for Undergraduate Courses (Aug 2018-May 2019)
  • Project Manager for Evaluation of ACT program (Aug 2016-May 2018)
  • Research Associate for Qualitative Evaluation of FatherWorks Program (Aug 2016-Dec 2016)
  • Project Manager for the Crossover Youth Project (May 2015-May 2016)

Awards/scholarships/fellowships:

  • Mattoon-Kline Endowed Scholarship Fund, University of Connecticut, May 2019
  • Human Development and Family Sciences Departmental Award, University of Connecticut, May 2019
  • Predoctoral Graduate School Fellowship Award, University of Connecticut, May 2019
  • Human Development and Family Sciences Internal Dissertation Grant Award, University of Connecticut, Mar 2019
  • Summer Fellowship for Advanced Graduate Students, University of Connecticut, Jun 2017, May 2018
  • CLAS Dean’s Fund Fellowship, University of Connecticut, May 2016
  • Graduate School Fellowship, University of Connecticut, May 2016
  • Tuition Assistance Award, University of Connecticut, Aug 2013 – May 2014