Faculty and Staff

Aaron Norton, PhD, LMFT
Associate Professor and Director, School of Human Sciences
WH 115-F
anorton@twu.edu  
940-898-2677

Education: PhD, Kansas State University; MS, Kansas State University; BS, University of Utah; BS, University of Utah; Associate Degree, General Studies, Weber State University

Research Interests: Online Therapy; Couples and Technology; Couples Relationships and Parenting; Couples and Military

View Profile

Elizabeth McCarroll, PhD, CCLS
Professor & Division Head
WH 110
emccarroll@twu.edu
940-898-2736

Education: PhD, Texas Tech University; MS, Texas Tech University; BS, University of Texas; Certified Child Life Specialist, Association of Child Life Professionals

Research Interests: Social and emotional development of children, including peer relationships and friendships; impact of hospitalization on children and on parents/parenting; infant and toddler development

View Profile

Kathryn Cantrell, PhD, Certified Child Life Specialist
Assistant Professor
kcantrell1@twu.edu 
940-898-2619

Education: PhD, University of Massachusetts; MA, Tufts University; BA, Austin College

Research Interests: Racial disparities in child life services; chronic illness disclosure and illness narratives; social justice pedagogy in child life and pediatric psychology; and child life research methods

Katherine Rose, PhD
Professor
WH 111
krose1@twu.edu
940-898-3154

Education: PhD, Purdue University; MS, Purdue University; MS, University of North Texas; BS, Baylor University

Research Interests: Parental decision-making about non-parental child care arrangements; child care quality; professional development of child care providers

View Profile

Melissa McInnis Brown, PhD
Associate Professor & Division Head
WH 102-G
mbrown50@twu.edu
940-898-2675

Education: PhD, University of Alabama; MA, University of Alabama; BA, The University of Texas at Austin

Research Interests: Conceptual/cognitive development; pretend play; imaginary companions; socioemotional development; theory of mind; empathy; executive functions; school readiness

View Profile

Rhonda Buckley, PhD
Associate Professor
WH 308-B
rbuckley@twu.edu
940-898-3152

View Profile

Catherine Dutton, PhD, CFCS
Associate Professor
WH 104-D
cdutton@twu.edu
940-898-2681

Shann Hwa (Abraham) Hwang, PhD, CFLE
Professor
WH 015-H
shwang@twu.edu
940-898-3155

View Profile

Nerissa LeBlanc Gillum, PhD
Professor
WH 015-G
ngillum@twu.edu
940-898-2696

Seonhwa Lee, PhD
Assistant Professor
WH 308F
slee57@twu.edu 
940-898-2276

Education: PhD, University of Georgia; MS, University of Rochester Medical Center; MA, Seoul Women’s University; BA, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Research Interests: Dynamics of family and couple stress processes; health of adults across the lifespan; family and health issues; and intergenerational relationships

Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez, PhD
Assistant Professor
WH 308E
zstankovic@twu.edu 
940-898-2713

Education: PhD, Texas Woman's University; MS, Texas Woman's University; BA, Southern Methodist University

Research Interests: Physical environments optimal for young children; components of quality early childhood education; how children learn, grow and develop - developmental cascades

Dimple Vadgama, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor
WH 308-D
dvadgama@twu.edu 
940-898-2694

Education: PhD, Syracuse University; MS, University of Mumbai, India; BS, SNDT Women's University, India; BA, Pracheen Kala Kendra Chandigarh, India

Research Interests: Parenting and Co-parenting; immigrant families; work-family interface; effects of COVID-19 on children and families; empathy among children; motivation

Azucena Verdin Peralta, PhD
Assistant Professor
WH 015B
averdin@twu.edu 
940-898-3153

Education: PhD, University of North Texas; MEd, Harvard Graduate School of Education; BA, Harvard University

Research Interests: Knowledge-making in BIPOC families; epistemic development of Latina mothers; women of color feminisms to challenge dominant constructions of motherhood and childhood; critical qualitative methodologies; home visitor identity development

View Profile

Brigitte Vittrup, PhD
Professor and Dean, College of Professional Education
SH 202
bvittrup@twu.edu 
940-898-2624

Education: PhD, University of Texas; MA, University of Texas; BA, Texas State University; BS, University of Texas

Research Interests: Child Development; Developmental Psychology; Parental Socialization, Children's Racial Attitudes, Racial/Ethnic Socialization Practices, Child Guidance; Media Influences on Children

View Profile

Joel Muro, PhD, LPC-S, RPT, NCC
Professor & Division Head
Counseling & Development Program Director
WH 104-F
jmuro@twu.edu
940-898-2705

Damion Davis, PhD, LPC
Visiting Assistant Professor
WH 213-D
ddavis63@twu.edu 
940-898-2688

Education: PhD, Texas A&M University-Commerce; MEd, University of North Texas; BA, University of Texas at Arlington

Research Interests: Mental health needs of the Black community; Racism and its impact on the counseling process; Psychopathology and stigmas attached to diagnosing; 
Mental health concerns of individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer

Lisa Grubbs, PhD, LPC-S, CSC, CG-C
Associate Professor, MEd School Counseling Program Coordinator
WH 104-E
lgrubbs@twu.edu
940-898-2653

Lamar Muro, PhD, LPC
Associate Professor, Counseling and Development Clinical Coordinator
WH 015-D
lmuro1@twu.edu
940-898-2693

Diana G. Rodriguez, PhD, LPC, NCC
Assistant Professor
WH 104G
drodriguez86@twu.edu  
940-898-2690

Education: PhD, Texas A&M University-Commerce; MA, Northwestern University; BS, University of Texas at Dallas

Research Interests: Bilingual counselor education and supervision; Latinx/e families; recently migrated children and families; and mindfulness within counselor education

Monica Willhite, PhD, LPC
Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor
WH 213-B
mwillhite@twu.edu 
940-898-2698

Education: PhD, East Texas A&M University; MA, MidAmerica Nazarene University; BS, Texas Woman's University

Research interests: Trauma-informed approaches to counselor education; Integration of trauma and resilience training within counselor preparation programs; Prevention of counselor burnout and vicarious trauma

Rebecca Lucero Jones, PhD
Associate Professor & Division Head
WH 102-E
rlucerojones@twu.edu
940-898-2687

Education: PhD, Texas Tech University; MS, Texas Tech University; BA, Brigham Young University

Research Interests: Marginalized Populations; Mexican Americans; Bi-cultural Couples; Immigration; Trauma; Substance Use Disorders; Opioid Use Disorders; Sexual Relationships; Medical Family Therapy; Family Therapy; Qualitative Inquiry; Dyadic Analysis

View Profile

Brittany Huelett-Lyons, PhD
Assistant Professor
WH 102-F
bhuelett@twu.edu 
940-898-2749

Education: PhD, Loma Linda University; MS, Loma Linda University; BS, University of Texas at Austin

Research Interests: Marginalized Populations, Medical Family Therapy, Couples and Illness

View Profile

Adam Jones, PhD
Associate Professor
WH 102-B
ajones116@twu.edu
940-898-2682

Education: PhD, Texas Tech University; MS, Utah State University; BS, Weber State University

Research Interests: Sexual Communication; Sexuality; Psychophysiology; Couple Conflict; Dyadic Data Analysis; Structural Equation Modeling; Psychotherapy Training; Therapy Process; Family Therapy; Medical Family Therapy; Illness and Disability

View Profile

Hou I (Esther) Lau, PhD, LMFT-Associate
Assistant Professor
WH 104-A
hlau2@twu.edu 
940-898-2762

Education: PhD, Texas Tech University; M.MFT, Abilene Christian University; BA, Abilene Christian University.

Research Interests: Marginalized Populations; Invisible Pain & Loss; Complex Trauma; Couple Conflict/ Relationship; Chronic Illness

Carol Elise Thompson, PhD, LMFT-S
Visiting Assistant Professor
WH 102-D
cthompson25@twu.edu 
940-898-2692

Education: PhD, Texas Woman's University; MS, Texas Woman's University; BS, Abilene Christian University

Research Interests: Feminist family therapy; cultural humility, MFT supervision; complex trauma; and post-traumatic growth