Relationship health and well-being in couples, families, and communities
Researching and training practitioners in therapy and counseling for relationships. Investigates the decision-making processes involved in marital relationships leading to the consideration and experience of divorce, including factors influencing couples' decisions to either continue their marriage or pursue divorce. Exploring and understanding close relationships that have strong emotional connections of belonging, care, and love.
Ronald Asiimwe, PhD Ronald Asiimwe, PhD
- Assistant Professor, Couple & Family Therapy Specialization
- asiim004@umn.edu
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.

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.

Michael Curtis Michael Curtis
- Assistant Professor
- He/him/his
- curtism@umn.edu
Dr. Curtis joins the University of Minnesota following the completion of postdoctoral research fellowship appointments at Emory University and Northwestern University.

Jodi Dworkin Jodi Dworkin
- Professor and Extension Specialist
- she, her, hers
- 612-624-3732
- jdworkin@umn.edu
My research and outreach focuses on promoting positive family development, parenting adolescents and college students, and the role of technology in these relationships.

Steven Harris Steven Harris
- Professor, Couple and Family Therapy Specialization
- 612-625-1900
- smharris@umn.edu
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…

Chansophal Mak Chansophal Mak
- Post-Doctoral Associate
- She/Her/Hers
- cmak@umn.edu
Chansophal Mak (Sophal) is originally from Cambodia. She received her PhD in Human Development and Family Science with emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Georgia in Spring 2023.

Christopher Mehus Christopher Mehus
- Research Associate Professor
- 651-785-3660
- cjmehus@umn.edu
I am a Prevention Scientist with a background in family science, family therapy, parenting interventions, primary care research, and psychological trauma.

Tai Mendenhall Tai Mendenhall
- Professor, Couple & Family Therapy Specialization
- he/him/his
- 612-624-3138
- mend0009@umn.edu

Cynthia Meyer Cynthia Meyer
- Senior Lecturer
- she/her/hers
- 612-625-8265
- cjmeyer@umn.edu
I am passionate about teaching about (and continuing to learn about) all the ways in which sexuality, families and larger systems are interconnected.

Michelle Pasco Michelle Pasco
- Assistant Professor
- she/her/hers
- mpasco@umn.edu
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.

Avelina Rivero Avelina Rivero
- Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
- Ella/she/her/hers
- river896@umn.edu
Rivero is an assistant professor and extension specialist in the Department of Family Social Science.

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…
