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