College of Education and Human Development

Family Social Science

Faculty

Ronald Asiimwe, PhD Ronald Asiimwe, PhD

Dr. A grew up in Uganda, Africa and moved to the US in 2016 to study Couple and Family Therapy (CFT). He has research and clinical experience practicing in both the U.S. and in his home country of Uganda.

Ronald Asiimwe, assistant professor

Sara Axtell Sara Axtell

  • Senior Lecturer and Faculty-at-Large, Cultural Wellness Center
  • she, her, hers
  • 612-625-0252
  • axtel002@umn.edu

Axtell is the recipient of a 2023 University of Minnesota Outstanding Community Service Award . Much of my work focuses on developing mutually beneficial, authentic collaborations between the university and communities.

Sara Axtell, senior lecturer

Lynne Borden Lynne Borden

  • Professor and Associate Dean of Research and Engagement, UMN Extension
  • she, her, hers
  • 612-624-7707
  • lmborden@umn.edu

Borden's research and discovery endeavors to better understand the relationships young people have in various contexts and how those relationships affect their overall development.

borden

Chalandra Bryant Chalandra Bryant

  • Professor and Pauline Boss Faculty Fellow in Ambiguous Loss
  • 612-625-1900
  • cmbryant@umn.edu

Bryant joined the UMN faculty in 2020 and currently serves as the FSoS Director of Research.

bryant

Chun Creaser Chun Creaser

Before joining the University of Minnesota, I taught at the University of Illinois Springfield.

professor chun creaser

Michael Curtis Michael Curtis

Dr. Curtis joins the University of Minnesota following the completion of postdoctoral research fellowship appointments at Emory University and Northwestern University.

A professor.

Jodi Dworkin Jodi Dworkin

My research and outreach focuses on promoting positive family development, parenting adolescents and college students, and the role of technology in these relationships.

dworkin

Jennifer George Jennifer George

Dr. George has taught at a variety of levels, including K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and adult education.

Jennifer George

Steven Harris Steven Harris

Minnesota Couples on the Brink: The mission of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project is to develop, disseminate, and evaluate best practices to help couples at high risk for divorce who are uncertain whether to divorce or to try to rebuild their…

Steven Harris, professor

Stacey Horn Stacey Horn

  • Department Head, Professor, and Campbell Leadership Chair in Education & Human Development
  • she/her/hers
  • 612-625-1900
  • sshorn@umn.edu

Horn's current research focuses on prejudice related to sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as bias-motivated bullying among adolescents.

Stacey Horn

Margaret Kelly Margaret Kelly

  • Senior Teaching Specialist and Director of Undergraduate Studies
  • she/her/hers
  • 612-625-7825
  • deleh003@umn.edu

I am driven to help learners engage in the communities and broader world around them. I believe deeply in the benefit of seeking knowledge by going outside the space of the university.

Margaret Kelly

Christy Kujawa Christy Kujawa

I am passionate about education, support and community for parents. I believe in sharing evidence based, scientific research, offering best practice, allowing parents to make the most informed decisions possible when it comes to their children.

a professor

Jenifer McGuire Jenifer McGuire

Transgender youth and families: I study the well-being of young people who identify as transgender with a specific focus on ways that family environments can best support healthy development.

Jennifer Mcguire

Christopher Mehus Christopher Mehus

I am a Prevention Scientist with a background in family science, family therapy, parenting interventions, primary care research, and psychological trauma.

Christopher Mehus

Cynthia Meyer Cynthia Meyer

I am passionate about teaching about (and continuing to learn about) all the ways in which sexuality, families and larger systems are interconnected.

Cynthia Meyer

Michelle Pasco Michelle Pasco

Michelle Pasco received a PhD in Family and Human Development at Arizona State University and before joining the University of Minnesota was a Postdoctoral Research Scholar working on the Arizona Youth Identity Project.

Michelle Pasco

Timothy Piehler Timothy Piehler

  • Associate Professor, Distinguished University Teaching Professor
  • he/him/his
  • 612-301-1484
  • tpiehler@umn.edu

My program of research is focused on developing and evaluating preventive interventions in the areas of youth mental health and substance use.

Timothy Piehler

Shannon Rader Shannon Rader

  • Parent & Family Education Program Director and Lecturer
  • she/her/hers
  • 612-625-0701
  • rade0081@umn.edu

I am energized when I work with students to develop the knowledge and skills to be a quality parent educator.

Shannon Rader

Avelina Rivero Avelina Rivero

Rivero is an assistant professor and extension specialist in the Department of Family Social Science.

A professor.

Kay Simon Kay Simon

Kay A. Simon joins the University of Minnesota following a postdoctoral research fellow appointment at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) working with Drs. Ryan Watson and Lisa Eaton.

Kay Simon

Catherine Solheim Catherine Solheim

Dr. Solheim and Dr. Liz Wieling are leading a project that seeks to understand the process of resettlement of newly arriving Karen refugees in Minnesota.

Catherine Solheim

Xiaoran Sun Xiaoran Sun

As a developmental and family psychologist, I conduct research on the interplay between family systems processes and well-being across adolescence and young adulthood, situated in the larger socio-ecological context--including the cultural context…

Xiaoran Sun

Lindsey Weiler Lindsey Weiler

Advising statement Dr. Weiler's research focuses on developing and testing interventions for children and adolescents. The goal of this research is to identify effective strategies for fostering positive development and healthy functioning.

Lindsey Weiler, associate professor

Armeda Wojciak Armeda Wojciak

  • Associate Professor and Couple & Family Therapy Program Director
  • she/her/hers
  • 612-625-1900
  • awojciak@umn.edu

Dr. Wojciak has developed a robust research program in improving outcomes for at-risk youth and families with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) through interventions that are designed and evaluated across family, foster care, school, and youth…

Armeda Wojciak

Zha Blong Xiong Zha Blong Xiong

My primary research interests focus on the social and cultural capital that promotes (or hinders) healthy development in children, especially with children of immigrant and refugee families.

Zha Blong Xiong

Virginia Solis Zuiker Virginia Solis Zuiker

  • Associate Professor, AFC Supervising Faculty, and Department Honors Faculty Representative
  • she/her/ella
  • 612-625-4225
  • vzuiker@umn.edu

Virginia Solis Zuiker, an associate professor, joined the FSOS faculty in 1996 and teaches courses around individuals and family finance and counseling and conducts research on financial socialization of college students and how family businesses…

A professor.