Human Development & Family Science News

Ella Morrissey

May 12, 2026

From heart transplant to trained child life specialist, student finds her beat at Mizzou

Ella Morrissey arrived at the University of Missouri determined to make up for lost time. After a heart transplant her senior year of high school, she was ready to say yes to the opportunities and everyday moments she missed growing up with heart disease.
#17 public graduate education programs, #14 special education programs

April 7, 2026

College of Education & Human Development rises in U.S. News graduate education rankings

The University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development is ranked among the nation’s top graduate education programs, according to the 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.
Old wooden one vintage chair in a room with red grunge walls and floor in sunlight, dark shadows. Shabby antique furniture. Empty copy space, no people. Retro interior still life, concept.

March 31, 2026

Feeling lonely? Mizzou researchers are building new ways to help people reconnect

Through the ShowMe Connection project, rural Missouri residents can learn practical strategies to build stronger, healthier social networks.
Ana Compain-Romero, Sarah Mitchell, Kui Xie

March 17, 2026

Leadership in family science

For Sarah Mitchell, the study of families has always been about understanding people and the relationships that shape their lives. Mitchell, a three-time graduate of the University of Missouri, is the recipient of the College of Education & Human Development’s Early Career Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes alumni who are making a significant impact early in their professional careers.
a group of people posing with Truman the Tiger

March 12, 2026

HDFS students honored at 2026 Mizzou 18 and Mizzou ’39 awards

The Mizzou Alumni Association and the Alumni Association Student Board recently named recipients of the 2026 Mizzou 18 and Mizzou '39 awards, which recognize outstanding University of Missouri students. Two Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) students, Jarri Brooks and Jasmine M. Godwin, were honored at this year's awards ceremony.
two pink hearts on a white surface

Feb. 11, 2026

10 tips to keep the romance in relationships

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Kale Monk offers 10 tips on strengthening relationships. He notes that relationships have a big impact on our mental and physical health. A strong relationship means more than a harmonious household: Social connections can affect how long we live. Researchers found that the impact of social isolation is equal to or stronger than factors like smoking, lack of exercise, and pollution.
Aida (third from the right) poses with other scholars from the Society for Research in Child Development program

Jan. 13, 2026

HDFS Graduate Student Selected for SRCD Scholars Program

Aida Ismailova, a doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, was selected to be 2025 cohort scholar for the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholars Program through the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). This program ran from June to December 2025 and was designed to support scholars from underrepresented backgrounds in developmental science. Graduate students in the program are mentored by more advanced scholars in the field, providing early career scholars with guidance and support in their pursuit of educational and professional goals.  The program began with an in-person kickoff meeting in…
Cristina received the Feldman Research Proposal Award at NCFR in Baltimore. Standing with other MU HDFS representatives (from left to right): Karen Talley, Dr. Sarah Killoren, Dr. Brenda Lohman.

Dec. 16, 2025

HDFS Students Earn National Awards at NCFR 2025

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is the premier organization for family science, and this year’s annual meeting was held in Baltimore, Maryland in November. Several Mizzou HDFS students were honored with awards this year. I Dewa Ayu Dwika Puspita Dewi, a Fulbright Scholar and PhD student working with Dr. Brenda Lohman, received the Family Policy Section Feldman Best Conference Proposal Award for a student. Honoring Harold Feldman and Margaret Feldman, pioneers in the field of family policy, this award is offered to the highest-ranked applications, and it serves as encouragement for advancing family policy research. Dwika Dewi’s…
Receiving the community award

Oct. 30, 2025

MU Child Development Lab First in State To Earn State Quality Designation, Celebrates Renovation 

Child Development Lab (CDL) celebrated its newly renovated facility and is the first in the state to receive a Quality Assurance Recognition from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood.
Members of the administration and community cutting a ribbon.

Oct. 30, 2025

RISE-MO Expands Expert Support for Missouri’s Early Childhood Workforce 

RISE-MO—Recruit, Inspire, Support the Early Childhood Profession in Missouri—is a new initiative designed to expand and strengthen Missouri’s early childhood education workforce.