Faculty and Staff
Faculty
Department Chair

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
Child Development / Child Life

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
WH 104E
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 (Suzie) 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
Counseling and 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
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
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-idenitfying individuals; international counseling, international school counseling

Joel Muro, PhD, LPC, RPT, NCC
Program Coordinator, Dual Music Therapy Advisor
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
Family Studies

Joyce Armstrong, PhD, CFLE, CFCS
Graduate Program Coordinator
Professor
WH 104-G
jarmstrong@twu.edu
940-898-2690

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
Marriage & Family Therapy

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
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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, Abliene 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
Faculty Emeritus
Linda Brock
Professor Emerita
lbrock@twu.edu
Linda Ladd
Professor Emerita
lladd@twu.edu
Jennifer Martin
Professor Emerita
jmartin@twu.edu
Karen Petty
Professor Emerita
kpetty@twu.edu
Staff
Renee Blanchard, PhD
Undergraduate Advisor
WH 102-D
rblanchard@twu.edu
(940) 898-2692
Naomi Graham
Coordinator of HDFSC Programs
WH 115-D
ngraham2@twu.edu
940-898-2699
Whitney Mathison, PhD, LPC, NCC
Counseling & Family Therapy Clinic Director
WH 114-P
wmathison@twu.edu
940-898-2954
Jordyn Randall
Graduate Advisor
WH 115
jrandall3@twu.edu
940-898-2695
Anna Stokes
Senior Secretary, Graduate Programs
WH 115-B
astokes1@twu.edu
940-898-2686
Contact Information
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 425769
Denton, TX 76204
Physical Address
115, Woodcock Hall (WH)
1202 Old Main Circle
(north of the Bell Avenue and Texas Street intersection)
Phone
940-898-2685
Email
HDFSC@twu.edu
Page last updated 3:32 PM, September 14, 2023