Alumni Happenings

What’s happening with our alums?

2009 PRESIDENTIAL CITATION FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD honors graduates of the last 20 years who exhibit great promise in their professional career and/or public service activities.  This year's recipients are:

David S. Bullock '90 EG
Faye M. Corman '97 AG
Louis M. Honick '98 AS
Scott R. Rosas '93 AS, '99M CEPP, '02PhD CEPP
William R. Van Etten '03 BE

Nomination guidelines require all nominees to be making significant contributions as demonstrated through tangible result, innovations, promotions, and company or community recognition.

2009 CEPP OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARDS received by Rita M. Landgraf and Pearl E. Stewart

The Honorable Rita M. Landgraf, (B.S. 1980) Secretary of Health and Social Services for the State of Delaware and Pearl E. Stewart, (Ph.D. 1986) Associate Professor, Department of Family and Child Studies, Montclair State University, were two of the four winners of the 2009 CEPP Outstanding Alumni Awards. 

2010 STATE OF DELAWARE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS

The State of Delaware, Department of Education, has named 19 nominees for the Teacher of the Year award.  Each nominee was named Teacher of the Year in their districts.  Among the nominees are two HDFS graduates.

Dawn E. Alexander teaches Kindergarten and First Grade integration students at Southern Elementary School, Colonial School District. Dawn holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in education from Boston University. 

"I am of the opinion that teachers have the responsibility of engaging children in meaningful learning
each and every day. In my classroom, you will see my teaching philosphy come to life! You will see my children with special needs engaging in activities with same age typical peers through integration opportunities during both academic and non-academic times.”
Dawn Alexander. 5/18/09 Colonial School District press release.

Tracy Taylor Calhoun teaches Kindergarten at Townsend Early Childhood Center, Appoquinimink School District.  Tracy received her bachelors of science degree in Early Childhood Development and Education from University of Delaware.

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATIONS

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Delaware, would like to congratulate Debra Grandizio, BSHR1983; MI 2001, on earning the National Board Certification. We know what a strenuous process that is and how difficult it is to achieve certification.   

Susan Whitcraft just received National Board Certification.  Congratulations!

“Studying Early Childhood Education at the University of Delaware provided me with an excellent foundation to make a difference in the lives of children and families. Everything I learned through my research, studies, and numerous hands-on practical experiences at U of D is brought to life in my classroom every day! I look back at my time spent in classrooms in the lab school and in the surrounding neighborhood schools in Newark as motivating, challenging and rewarding. U of D is where I developed my passion for teaching young children and for lifelong learning. The education I received at the University of Delaware gave me the confidence to pursue National Board Teaching Certification. My solid understanding of early childhood development and developmental theory combined with the essential knowledge I gained through coursework and practicum experiences at U of D allowed me to become a National Board Certified Teacher of Early Childhood Education. This all began at U of D and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to enhance my teaching and to help my students to learn and grow! Thank you U of D!”  
           Susie (BSHR-1984; MI-1991)  

Graduates of our MS and PhD graduate programs are employed at numerous colleges and Universities, as well as state government. Listed below are a selected listing of many of our alums.

Peter Antal, University of New Hampshire

David Appleby, Liberty University

Cheri Carter: Temple University.

Marcella Copes: Coppin State University

Shawn L. Christiansen, Southern Utah University

Julie Fisher: Wesley College

John Foley: Shippensburg University - he also works as a Mental Health Program evaluator for the State of Pennsylvania

Rena Hallam - University of Tennessee Knoxville

Christy Jensen: College of William and Mary.

Seongeun Kim: Penn State University– Media

Michelle Knights: Messiah College

Julie Koivunen: Rutgers University- New Brunswick

Jane Kurz: Temple University

James Littles: Urshan Graduate School of Theology

Loren Marks: Louisiana State University

Kate O'Shea: Hampshire College

Wei Qui: Weber University

Ilka (Pfiester) Riddleis: Research Scientist at CDS, University of Delaware

Scott Scheer, Ohio State University

Pearl Stewart: Montclair State University

Jean Marie St-Christman: Penn State University- York

Tara Woolfolk- Rutgers University-Camden

Tracy Evian Waasdorp: Fellow in the School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University

Nancy Wilson is with the state dept of ED

Recent M.A. grads are employed at the following schools:

Case Western Reserve University
Coppin State University
Dickinson College
Drexel University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgia Tech
Ithaca College
Louisiana State University
Montclair State University
Pennsylvania State University
Philadelphia University
Siena College
St. Joseph's University
Union College
University of California - Berkeley
Widener University
University of Delaware
University of Maryland
University of Virginia
Vassar College
Villanova University
Virginia Tech

In recent years, M.A. grads have pursued doctorates in Counseling Psychology at:

University of Missouri
University of Utah
Pennsylvania State University
Indiana University
University of Georgia
University of Maryland.

MA grads who have pursued doctorates in Higher Education Administration at:

Temple University
University of Maryland
University of Virginia
Penn State University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Michigan

Our Undergraduate Majors go to a variety of graduate schools:

Here are some of the graduate programs that recent human services graduates have attended:

Business Administration/Management
St. Joseph University
New School University
Counseling (School Counseling, Community Counseling)
Appalachian State University
Baptist Bible College
Boston College
Montclair State University
New York University
Teachers College/Columbia University
University of Delaware
University of Virginia
Wilmington College
Educational Leadership
University of Delaware
University of Maryland, College Park
Health Advocacy
Sarah Lawrence College
Human Development and Family Studies
University of Delaware
University of Missouri
Law School
Boston College
Pace Law School
Rutgers School of Law
Public Administration and Urban Affairs
University of Delaware
Villanova University
West Chester University Clinical Psychology
Immaculata University
Michigan School for Professional Psychology
Public Health
Temple University
Social Psychology
San Diego State University
Social Work
Boston College
Columbia University
Bryn Mawr College
Delaware State University
Fordham University
Rutgers University
Temple University
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Pennsylvania
Wayne State University
Special Education/Elementary Education
Cabrini College
Hunter College
Lehigh University
Monmouth University
Northeastern University
Rutgers University
Wilmington College
Student Affairs in Higher Education
Colorado State University

Many students with the HS major take social service positions after they graduate with their B.S.. Their competition in the job market is often the Bachelor of Social Work or Psychology graduate.
The list below indicates the employment of recent graduates:

Activities Counselor/Therapist
Addictions Counselor
After School Manager
Associate Director of Development
Behavior Analyst with Disabilities
Bereavement Counselor
Boy Scouts District Executive
Case Manager for Foster Care
Chief of Operations, Family Court
Community Organizer
Conference Manager
Cooperative Extension staff
Coordinator of Family Planning Services
Coordinator of Volunteers
Detention Officer
Development Coordinator
Director of Activities
Disabilities Specialist
Family Service Specialist
High School Admissions Counselor Human Resource Representative/Coordinator
Human Services Counselor/Social Worker
Legal Advocate/Outreach Coordinator
Manager/Director of Residential facility
Medical Social Worker
Parent Educator
Patient Aid Coordinator
Program Coordinator/Manager
Program or Social Services Director
Program Support Specialist
Relocation Administrator
Residential Counselor
Respite Care Coordinator
School Counselor
State Budget Analyst
Student Activities Coordinator
Teacher’s Assistant
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Youth Coordinator