Faculty and Staff

Brigitte Vittrup, PhD
Professor
WH 115-F
bvittrup@twu.edu 
940-898-2624

Education: PhD, University of Texas at Austin

Research Interests: Racial socialization; children's racial attitudes; child discipline; media influences on children

Melissa McInnis Brown, PhD
Associate Professor
WH 102-F
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

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

Kathryn Cantrell, PhD, Certified Child Life Specialist
Associate Clinical 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

Elizabeth McCarroll, PhD, CCLS
Program Coordinator, MS in Child Life
Professor
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

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

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

Lisa Grubbs, PhD, LPC-S, CSC, CG-C, NCC
School Counselor Advisor, CACREP Liaison
Associate Professor
WH 213-B
lgrubbs@twu.edu
940-898-2653

Jodi Jarrett, PhD, LPC, NCC
Assistant Professor
WH 104E
jjarrett1@twu.edu  
940-898-2698

Education: PhD, University of North Texas; MS, University of North Texas; BS, The University of Texas at Arlington 

Research Interests: Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies; Anti-Racism; Cultural Humility; Multiple Marginalization; Marginalized Military Groups

Bonnie King, PhD, LPC-S, CSC
Assistant Professor
WH 213D
bking13@twu.edu 
940-898-2688

Education: PhD, University of New Orleans; MA, Texas State University; BA, St. Edwards University

Research Interests: Ecotherapy and counseling in green space; best practices for working with transgender-identifying individuals; international counseling, international school counseling

Joel Muro, PhD, LPC, RPT, NCC
Program Coordinator
Professor
WH 104-F
jmuro@twu.edu
940-898-2705

Lamar Muro, PhD, LPC
Associate Professor
WH 015-D
lmuro1@twu.edu
940-898-2693

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

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

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

Brittany Huelett, 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

Adam Jones, PhD
Assistant 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

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

Education: MFT, Abilene Christian University; BA, Abilene Christian University.

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

Rebecca Lucero Jones, PhD
Assistant Professor
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

Aaron Norton, PhD, LMFT
Program Coordinator, Marriage & Family Therapy
Associate Professor
WH 104-B
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