CYFS Faculty
Postdoctoral Scholars
Joseph Gardella
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory
162B WHIT
joseph.gardella@unl.edu
Joseph Gardella
Joseph Gardella is a mixed-methods community and applied social psychologist whose research focuses on better understanding individual and systemic causes of positive youth development in school settings, particularly with historically marginalized populations. His work focuses on developing, implementing and evaluating prevention and intervention programming and informing policy efforts, especially building structural interventions that increase opportunities to grow relationships and coach targeted skills. Gardella earned his Ph.D. in Community Research and Action from Vanderbilt University.
Melissa D. Zephier Olson
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory
162F WHIT
melissa.olson@unl.edu
Melissa Zephier Olson
Melissa D. Zephier Olson, a Yankton Sioux tribal member and a descendant of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes, received her doctoral degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in global family health and well-being and ethnic studies. She is a qualitative researcher intent on exploring the impacts of colonization on Indigenous families and relationships. Zephier Olson will continue her research by exploring research aimed at reducing sexual violence among Indigenous youth through the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory’s grand challenges initiative to establish an Indigenous-led sexual violence prevention center on the Pine Ridge reservation.
Project Personnel
IVRL Personnel
Nicole Adams
Project Coordinator, INSIGHTS in Nebraska
BiographyNicole Adams
Nicole Adams is a project coordinator for INSIGHTS in Nebraska. She provides day-to-day assistance to the project manager in coordinating all aspects of the project and assists with all necessary activities of data collection, cleaning and coding, liaison with school districts and intervention implementation. Adams earned her master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Marianne Andersen
Research Coordination Specialist, TAPP Online
BiographyMarianne Andersen
Marianne Andersen is a research coordination specialist for TAPP Online, part of the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) research program. In this role, she supports school-based specialists as they work with parents and teachers to build partnerships between home and school to address social-behavioral concerns of students in preschool and elementary school. Andersen has more than 16 years of experience working with children and families. She holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Emily Arkfeld
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning Specialist, NeMTSS Implementation Support Team
BiographyEmily Arkfeld
Emily Arkfeld is a Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning (SEBL) Specialist with Nebraska's Multi-Tiered System of Support (NeMTSS) project. She provides professional development, technical assistance and coaching to educators regarding the social-emotional and behavioral learning needs of educators and students across the state. Arkfeld has spent nearly a decade as a school social worker and training new Child and Family Services Specialists for the State of Nebraska. She is a licensed clinical social worker and licensed mental health professional, and earned a master's degree in social work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Emma Brunke
Family-School Partnership Coach, TAPP Online
BiographyEmma Brunke
Emma Brunke is a family-school partnership coach with the TAPP Online project. In this role, she implements the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) coaching framework to support school-based specialists as they work with parents and teachers to build partnerships between home and school to address social-behavioral concerns of students in elementary school. She previously worked at CEDARS Youth Services as an associate director, where she supported the Early Childhood Development Center, Community Learning Centers and Prevention Services. Brunke holds a master’s degree in education from Loyola University-Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Nancy Coffey
Project Manager, Nebraska WORDS Project
BiographyNancy Coffey
Nancy Coffey is project manager for the Nebraska WORDS Project. She serves as a liaison for project partners and maintains contact with school administrators and staff. She assists in coordinating all aspects of the research and participates in professional development, coaching teachers, assessing students and organizing its after-school tutoring program. Coffey received her teaching degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is a Wilson Certified Dyslexia Practitioner and a CERI Certified Structured Literacy/Dyslexia Interventionist. She has also worked with the Nebraska Department of Education in rewriting the Nebraska Dyslexia Guide.
Daniela Cubas
Data Collector, TAPP Online
BiographyDaniela Cubas
Daniela Cubas is a data collector/coder for TAPP Online, part of the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) research program. She is responsible for on-site coding and phone and digital data collection. She works with schools and communicates broadly using bilingual skills to capture diverse data from research participants. Cubas holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Peru State College.
Kristen Derr
Senior Evaluation Coach
59 CPEH
402-472-4875
kderr3@unl.edu
Kristen Derr
Kristen Derr is senior evaluation coach. In this role, she manages collaborative teams of consultants, parents and teachers; maintains partnerships with school personnel; and develops working relationships with new schools and communities. Derr joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2012 as a key team member on an IES-funded study and has assisted with several projects involving the Teacher and Parents as Partners (TAPP) model. She received her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Doane College.
Laura Escobedo
Project Manager, TAPP Online
53 CPEH
402-472-2018
lescobedo2@unl.edu
Laura Escobedo
Laura Escobedo is a project manager for TAPP Online, part of the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) research program. She is responsible for managing on-site data collection scheduling and activities, maintaining communications with school personnel, providing point-person access to rural schools, service units, and other field staff in distant and remote areas assuring seamless study activities. Escobedo earned a master’s degree in bilingual education from Texas A&M-San Antonio and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Texas A&M University.
Jungwon Eum
Project Manager, INSIGHTS in Nebraska
37 CPEH
jeum@unl.edu
Jungwon Eum
Jungwon Eum is project manager for INSIGHTS in Nebraska. She provides leadership in research and implementation and manages large-scale projects and data. She earned a doctoral degree in child, youth and family studies with a specialization in child development/early childhood education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Eum received her master’s degree in child and family studies from the Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.
Sommer Fousek
Project Manager, Coaching in Early Intervention
BiographySommer Fousek
Sommer Fousek is the project manager for the Coaching in Early Intervention project, which aims to develop and refine an early childhood coaching model to increase the use of evidence-based practices among early intervention personnel and improve outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities. She serves as the project manager for the Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research (NAECR). NAECR provides resources and supports to early childhood researchers across the University of Nebraska system and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. Fousek also supports the Early Learning Network Lead project. She earned her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Jill Guenther
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning Specialist, NeMTSS Implementation Support Team
BiographyJill Guenther
Jill Guenther is a Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning (SEBL) Specialist with Nebraska’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (NeMTSS) project. She provides professional development and coaching focusing on social-emotional and behavioral learning needs to support educators and students across the state. Guenther earned a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of South Dakota and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Nebraska Kearney. She has spent the last 15 years — first as speech-language pathologist, then in special education leadership — providing training, support and services to students and staff at the secondary level.
Maureen Halpenny
Project Coordinator, NeMTSS Implementation Support Team
162 WHIT
maureen.halpenny@unl.edu
Maureen Halpenny
Maureen Halpenny is a project coordinator for the Nebraska MTSS (NeMTSS) project. She provides logistical, technical, organization and communications support to the statewide NeMTSS Implementation Support Team while it works to empower educators to support and prepare all students for success by systematically delivering a range of high-quality instruction. Originally from Omaha, Halpenny earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics education from Boston University.
Tamara Hechtner-Galvin
Project Coordinator, Getting Ready 0-3
21 CPEH
402-472-5529
thechtner2@unl.edu
Tamara Hechtner-Galvin
Tamara Hechtner-Galvin is the project coordinator for Getting Ready 0-3. This study focuses on strengthening the relationships children have with adults, as well as strengthening the partnerships between parents and their childcare providers. Collaboratively, parents and teachers identify and build on a child’s strengths, establish developmental goals, and create home-center plans to support developmentally appropriate child goals. Hechtner-Galvin's research interests include family-school partnerships, early childhood education, assessment and early intervention. She earned her doctoral degree in human development and family studies with an emphasis in early childhood education from Iowa State University.
Angela Hinrichs
Facilitator, INSIGHTS in Nebraska
33 CPEH
402-472-2448
s-ahinric2@unl.edu
Angela Hinrichs
Angela Hinrichs is the facilitator for INSIGHTS in Nebraska, a comprehensive social-emotional learning intervention for kindergarten and first-grade students in rural schools that includes parent, teacher and classroom components. She works directly with students, parents and teachers in rural communities to help them learn temperament-based strategies to solve common dilemmas. She has experience teaching in public schools.
Victoria Johnson
Project Manager, RESPECT Across Nebraska
BiographyVictoria Johnson
Victoria serves as a project manager for the Responsive Equitable System for Preparing Early Childhood Teachers (RESPECT) across Nebraska project, coordinating research, evaluation and implementation. Her research in community-based and culturally-relevant education around the world has focused on creative solutions for education that address holistic developmental growth among underserved populations. She earned her Ph.D. in Global Family Health and Wellbeing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Cynthia Kritenbrink
Early Childhood Coach, Getting Ready 0-3
BiographyCynthia Kritenbrink
Cynthia Kritenbrink joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2011 to serve as an early childhood coach on the Getting Ready 0-3 project. She trains early childhood educators in the Getting Ready approach, and supports them through ongoing coaching to build strong partnerships with the parents and families they serve. Kritenbrink received her master’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Robin Mills
Family-School Partnership Coach, TAPP Online
BiographyRobin Mills
Robin Mills is a family-school partnership coach with the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) Online project. Her work focuses on bringing parents, teachers and school specialists together to develop constructive relationships and support positive outcomes for children with behavioral needs. Mills has 13 years of experience in public school administration and special education services. She earned a bachelor's degree in theatre performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, a master's degree in communication from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a master's degree in educational leadership from Doane University.
Mackenzie Riedel
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning Specialist, NeMTSS Implementation Support Team
BiographyMackenzie Riedel
Mackenzie Riedel is a Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning (SEBL) Specialist with Nebraska’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (NeMTSS). She provides professional development, technical assistance and coaching to educators regarding the social-emotional and behavioral learning needs of educators and students across the state. Riedel earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a master’s and specialist degree in school psychology from Appalachian State University. Originally from Lincoln, she returned to Nebraska and worked as a school psychologist prior to joining the CYFS team.
Sandra Scruggs
Early Childhood Research Technician, Getting Ready 0-3
BiographySandra Scruggs
Sandra Scruggs has assisted with research-related tasks across multiple early childhood projects since 2007 and currently provides support for the Getting Ready project. She earned her master’s in nutrition, with an emphasis in public health, from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Kathryn Watson
Research Coordination Specialist, TAPP Online
BiographyKathryn Watson
Kathryn Watson is a research consultant based in Colorado working with the TAPP Online project. In this role, she implements the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) coaching framework to support school-based specialists as they work with parents and teachers to build partnerships between home and school to address social-behavioral concerns of students in elementary school. Watson previously worked in K-12 education as a social studies teacher. She earned a master's degree in integrated marketing from Marist College and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social sciences: secondary education from Michigan State University and is working on her Ph.D. in education leadership, research and policy from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Katie Zabel
Early Childhood Coach, Getting Ready 0-3
BiographyKatie Zabel
Katie Zabel joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2013 to serve as an early childhood coach on the Getting Ready 0-3 project. She trains early childhood educators in the Getting Ready approach, and supports them through ongoing coaching to build strong partnerships with the parents and families they serve. Zabel earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education/human development from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she also received an elementary education endorsement.
CYFS Staff
Istiaque Ali
Lead Database Developer & Analyst
BiographyIstiaque Ali
Istiaque Ali develops, manages and maintains research databases. He coordinates and analyzes CYFS project data, and programs database-driven websites for the center’s projects. His role also includes the development of electronic mailing lists and dynamic programs to chart and summarize data.
Julie Erickson
Administrative Coordinator
160 WHIT
julie.erickson@unl.edu
Julie Erickson
Julie Erickson provides administrative support to the director and oversees office management. She works collaboratively with grant support personnel to achieve a high-level of efficiency and productivity in the pre-award process. A native Nebraskan, Julie earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Julie Gillmor
Proposal Development Coordinator
162E WHIT
julie.gillmor@unl.edu
Julie Gillmor
Julie Gillmor works with faculty, staff and graduate students to help prepare grant proposals submitted to external sponsors. She identifies funding opportunities, ensures comprehensive grant development support, organizes and coordinates proposal development and submission, and reviews and refines grant applications. Originally from Old Fort, Ohio, Julie earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of Wooster in Ohio. She also has master’s degrees in health administration and public administration from Ohio State University.
Chuck Green
Communications Associate
162J WHIT
cgreen11@unl.edu
Chuck Green
Chuck Green collaborates with research faculty to gather information about grant-funded projects, then shares that information through articles, annual reports, promotional material and press releases across print and digital platforms. He also photographs research activities and events, assists with email marketing and social media, creates and updates website content, and manages the contact database. Originally from Lincoln, Chuck earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Tina Horan
Assistant Director for Research Operations
162C WHIT
tina.horan@unl.edu
Tina Horan
Tina Horan leads the research business/organizational operations of CYFS. She provides leadership and oversight for the center's fiscal operation, including budget monitoring, analysis and forecasting, and helps develop and implement business plans, policies and procedures. Tina is from Nebraska City and earned her bachelor's degree in finance/business administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Matilda Kond
Database Developer & Analyst
BiographyMatilda Kond
Matilda Kond designs, develops and manages research databases. Her role also includes developing web interfaces and providing consultation with research staff to maintain the quality of CYFS data management systems. Originally from Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, Matilda attended Nebraska's Concordia University on a soccer scholarship, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration. She also holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Union College in Lincoln.
Braxton Lindhorst
Grant Specialist
162G WHIT
braxton.lindhorst@unl.edu
Braxton Lindhorst
Braxton Lindhorst analyzes grant budgets and expenditures, initiates grant budget reports and reconciles monthly budgets. He also assists in the development of proposal budgets, grant extensions and budget modification.
Dana Ludvik
Communications & Media Specialist
162H WHIT
dludvik2@unl.edu
Dana Ludvik
Dana Ludvik works closely with CYFS staff and affiliated faculty to develop and implement strategic communications that share the center’s research and help extend its impact. She engages internal and external audiences in the center’s vision and activities through social media, articles, annual reports and promotional materials. Dana is from Lincoln and earned an interdisciplinary master’s degree in marketing, communications and advertising, and a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Maggie Montoya
Proposal Development Coordinator
162E WHIT
maggie.montoya@unl.edu
Maggie Montoya
Maggie Montoya works with faculty, staff and graduate students to help prepare grant proposals submitted to external sponsors. She identifies funding opportunities, ensures comprehensive grant development support, organizes and coordinates proposal development and submission, and reviews and refines grant applications.
Jeff Mueri
Grants Specialist
162G WHIT
jmueri@unl.edu
Jeff Mueri
Jeff Mueri assists in the development of proposal budgets, grant extensions and budget modifications while working with multiple team and department members to ensure the project reaches full potential. He also analyzes grant budgets and expenditures, initiates grant budget reports and reconciles monthly budgets.
Kyleigh Skaggs
Visual Communications Designer
162H WHIT
kskaggs3@unl.edu
Kyleigh Skaggs
Kyleigh designs and executes visual concepts for CYFS. She approaches each design with a clear set of goals for how best to elevate the brand and effectively reach its intended audience. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in visual communication and design from the University of Nebraska Kearney.
Seth Teager
Communications & Media Manager
160D WHIT
402-499-7974
steager2@unl.edu
Seth Teager
Seth creates purpose-driven visual communications that elevate, enhance and clearly define the brand and mission of CYFS. With an emphasis on user interface and user experience, he designs and develops websites for the center and center-based projects. He also designs print materials and provides videography for promotional and educational purposes.
Rebecca Voigtlander
Grant Specialist (Post-Award)
160E WHIT
rvoigtlander2@unl.edu
Rebecca Voigtlander
Rebecca Voigtlander analyzes grant budgets and expenditures, initiates grant budget reports and reconciles monthly budgets. She maintains updated hours for each staff member and creates categorized reports for hours logged per project.
Students
| Name | College | Department | Specialization | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Abramo | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Baudelio Abrica Anguiano | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Rachel Beeney | CEHS | Special Education & Communication Disorders | Speech-Language Pathology | UNL |
| Carrie Bohmer | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Counseling Psychology | UNL |
| Libby Brower | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Karalynn Brown | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Mackenzie Callen | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Emily Camp | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Counseling Psychology | UNL |
| Laurel Carder | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Child Development/Early Childhood Education | UNL |
| Dongho (Tom) Choi | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Quantitative, Qualitative and Psychometric Methods | UNL |
| Brandon Ee | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Alexander Farquhar-Leicester | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Counseling Psychology | UNL |
| Neli Morales Garcia | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Child Development/Early Childhood Education | UNL |
| Renata Trefiglio Mendes Gomes | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Early Learning Network | UNL |
| Paige Hespe | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Counseling Psychology | UNL |
| Kristen Hunt | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Counseling Psychology | UNL |
| Yuenjung Joo | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Child Development/Early Childhood Education | UNL |
| Eastyn Klink | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Kaitlyn Kugler | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Sunhyoung Lee | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Quantitative, Qualitative, & Psychometric Methods | UNL |
| Briana Momchilovich | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Jayden Nord | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Quantitative, Qualitative, & Psychometric Methods | UNL |
| Rebecca Overfield | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Abril Rangel-Pacheco | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Emelia Rejman | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Caroline Spitz | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Counseling Psychology | UNL |
| Linnea Swanson | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Fabianne Tavares Gondim | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Human Development and Family Science | UNL |
| Ally Thomsen | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Brittany Tvrdy | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Melanie Willis | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Emily Wilson | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Weiman Xu | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Global Family Health & Well-being | UNL |