School of Social and Family Dynamics Graduate Student Association (GSA)
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The School of Social and Family Dynamics Graduate Association serves as the graduate student voice for our department. The Officers and Committee Chairs work together throughout the year to organize events, such as happy hours and socials, brownbag talks, and recruitment. Meetings are held monthly.
Officers
2026-2027 Academic Year Officers
President
Liliana Rojo - [email protected]
Vice President
Kylie Burke - [email protected]
Administrator
Ana Briones - [email protected]
Treasurer
Iriana Munoz - [email protected]
Sociology Representative
Roberto Ortega - [email protected]
Family and Human Development
Briana Abarca
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2023
Degrees: B.A. in Psychology, University of California, Riverside; M.A. in Experimental Psychology, California State University, Fullerton
Interests: Adolescent development; emotional functioning and academic achievement; household size and structure; cultural factors and contexts
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca White
Mario Alvarez
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2024
Degrees: Psychology, BA; Family and Human Development, BS; Family and Human Development, MS
Interests: Latinx culture, identity development, academic trajectories, adolescence, emerging adulthood
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca White
Ana Briones
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca White
Kylie Burke
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Degrees: B.S. in Human Development and Family Science
Interests: How relationships and programs support positive outcomes for families/youth experiencing stress.
Advisor: Dr. Sabina Low
Stephanie Cottam
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2022
Degrees: Family and Human Development - Masters in progress, accepted into PhD program at ASU Tempe, Arizona
Interest: Mindfulness in parenting, mindfulness in schools, building school and family partnerships
Advisor: Dr. Sarah Lindstrom Johnson
Paul Espinoza
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2021
Progress (i.e. second year): Third Year
Degrees: B.S. in Sociology
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Interests: Stats, hiking, horror movies, and travel!
Advisor: Justin Jager
Lanli Jiang
Email: [email protected]
Silvia Jin
Email: [email protected]
Brooke Johnson
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2024
Degrees: Bachelors of Science in Psychology, Minor in Educational Studies
Interests: School Culture, School Climate, Implementation & Dissemination
Advisor: Dr. Laura Hanish
Yichun (Eve) Liu
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Degrees: M.Ed
Interests: adolescent socioemotional and positive development; family and cultural contexts
Advisor: Dr. Mengya Xia
Laura Means Malouf
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2020
Degrees: M.S. Psychology
Interests: Asian American racial identity, racism, interracial solidarity, critical consciousness
Advisor: Laura D. Hanish, PhD
Iriana Munoz
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca White
Mengting (Jasmine) Peng
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Advisor: Dr. Mengya Xia
Lillian Ramirez Vasquez
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2023
Degrees: BS in Psychology and Family and Human Development and pursuing my PhD in Family and Human Development
Interests: I enjoy cooking/baking, being a plant mom, and watching movies!
Advisor: Dr. Tracy Spinrad
Liliana Rojo
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Degrees: MA in Psychological Research, BS in Psychology
Interests: Interested in how cultural values/processes, individual factors, and family come together to influence the well-being of Latinx youth and families. Also interested in how relationships between family members relate to youth mental health in diverse cultural contexts.
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca White
Daniel Jose Sanchez
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2023
Degrees: Bachelor and Master of Arts (both from the University of Northern Colorado), Master of Public Administration (from Arizona State University)
Interests: Low-income Latinx families and the roles sibling relationships have in child development in youth through teen years. Latinx families. Gender. Culture. Feminism. Non academic; Reading, Walking my Dog, Calvin, Running/Walking, Going to the Movies, Cooking, Listening to Music/Podcasts, Traveling
Advisor: Dr. Kimberly Updegraff, Ph.D.
Hanbin Wang
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2024
Fuzhe (Jacqueline) Xie
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2024
Yinuo (Noreen) Xu
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Russell
Jin Yan
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2023
Degrees: M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies; B.S. in Psychology
Interests: Emerging adulthood and family relationships
Advisor: Justin Jager & Ashley Randal
Chunlu (Lyn) Yang
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2024
Degrees: M.Ed., Harvard University. B.A. Psychology, University of Michigan
Interests: Socioemotional Development, Prosocial Development, Early Childhood, Parenting, Artificial Inteliigence in Child Development
Advisor: Dr. Tracy Spinrad
Sociology
Bailee Blankemeier
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Degrees: BA Sociology (Concordia University, Irvine); MaEd Education and School Counseling (Concordia University, Irvine); MA Sociology (California State University, Fullerton)
Interests: Social inequality, social ideals, labor, health and wellbeing, emerging adulthood, qualitative research
Advisor: Cassandra Cotton
Daniela Carreon
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2022
Degrees: MA - Sociological Practice, BA - Social Sciences; Ethnic Studies from Cal State University San Marcos
Interests: Latina/e/x Sociology, Sociology of the Family, Motherhood, Body and Embodiment, Health and Illness, Death and Dying
Advisor: Nilda-Flores Gonzalez & Cassandra Cotton
Julianne Culey
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2022
Marcus Donaldson
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2023
Degrees: B.S., Criminal Justice and Criminology (Metropolitan State University of Denver), M.S., Justice Studies (Arizona State University)
Interests: Justice and Equity in Sport, Community and Black Empowerment, Police Violence, Social Media, Racial Equity
Advisor: Dr. Scott Brooks
Debbie Erickson
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2023
Degrees: B.S. in Sociology, Brigham Young University; M.A. in Sociology, Arizona State University
Interests: Latino/a/x/e Studies; Mixed-Race Families; Racialized Motherhood; Multiracial Identity; Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies; Media and Popular Culture
Advisor: Cassandra Cotton
Stacey M. Flores
Email:[email protected]
Cohort Year: 2020
Degrees: M.Ed. Counseling, Northern Arizona University, AZ; M.Ed. Higher and Postsecondary Education, Arizona State University, AZ; B.A. English, minor Journalism, Delta State University, MS
Research Interests: Intersection of sport and race; athlete experience; sport psychology; sport sociology; girls and women in sports.
Advisor: Dr. Scott Brooks
Armando Gonzales
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2026
Degrees: M.Ed. Counseling, Northern Arizona University, AZ; M.Ed. Higher and Postsecondary Education, Arizona State University, AZ; B.A. English, minor Journalism, Delta State University, MS
Research Interests: Intersection of sport and race; athlete experience; sport psychology; sport sociology; girls and women in sports
Advisor: Dr. Scott Brooks
Sione Lynn PIli Lister
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2022
Degrees: M.A. in Sociology, Computational Social Science Certificate from University of Arizona. B.A. in Sociology and minor in Education, Learning, and Society from University of Washington--Seattle
Interests: Interests: race, migration, Indigeneity, settler imperialism, colonial governance, diaspora, identity, belonging
Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Carlson
Jon McQueen
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2024
Amina Melendez-Mayfield
Email: [email protected]
Cohort year: 2022
Degrees: B.S. Sociology: Criminal Justice, Minor(s) American Sign Language & Psychology; Central Michigan University, M.A. Justice Studies; Arizona State University
Interest: Queer studies, Intersectionality, Race and Inequalities, Higher Education, Whiteness, Critical Race Theory, Black Geography
Advisor: Dr. Monica McDermott
Selena Morentin
Email: [email protected]
Cohort year: 2026
Degrees: AA Sociology - Mount San Antonio College / BA Sociology - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona / MA Sociology California State University
Interest: Gender, education, and social psychology with a particular focus on identity, inequality, and institutional processes. Special interests include intimate partner violence and its effects on relationship dynamics, educational attainment, and broader life trajectories
Advisor: Dr. Rocio Garcia
Uchenna Onuoha
Email: [email protected]
Cohort year: 2025
Degrees: Bachelor of laws (LL.B), MA Sociology and Criminology
Interest: Migration, Race and Ethnicity, Research Methodology and Demography
Advisor: Dr. Rocio Garcia
Jesus Orozco
Email: [email protected]
Cohort year: 2024
Roberto Ortega
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2023
Degrees: B.A. in Chicana/o/x Studies with Sociology minor, M.A. in Sociological Practice
Interests: Education, school-to-prison pipeline, deviance, policing, Latinx sociology
Advisor: Dr. Anthony Peguero
Henry Pennerman
Cohort year: 2023
Degrees: I completed my Bachelor’s (2008) and Master’s (2015) in Sociology at California State University, San Marcos.
Interests: Family formations, Relationship dynamics, and masculinity conceptualization & transmission in the Black community. My non-academic interests include almost anything sci-fi, arthouse movies, audiobooks, video games, and trying to exercise.
Advisor: Dr. Cassandra Cotton
Sarai Richter
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2023
Degrees: Bachelorette - Anthropology University of Michigan, Bachelorette - Political Science and Certificate in Conflict and Religion, Master's - Human Rights and Social Justice.
Interests: Feminist theory, Transnational Feminist Solidarity, Mutual Aid, Decolonization, Dis-Enchantment of Aid, Nonprofit Industrial Complex, Southeast Asia, Cambodia.
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Le
Michael Sanchez
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2025
Laria Sulleyman
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2026
Daniel Tei
Email: [email protected]
Cohort year: 2021
Degrees: M.S. Applied Criminology, Northern Arizona University; B.A. Social Sciences (Sociology & Economics), University of Cape Coast
Interest: Immigration, law and society.
Advisors: Anthony Peguero and Leslie Paik
Aaron Thompson
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2022
Degrees: 2007 B.A.: Journalism and Media Studies, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 2022: M.A.: Sociology, Arizona State University
Interests: Sociotechnical System, Institutional Trust, Decision Making, Political Engagement, Deviance
Advisor: Nilda Flores-Gonzales
Elías Ander Valentino
Email: [email protected]
Cohort Year: 2024
Degrees: BA Sustainability Arizona State University 2021, MS Justice Studies Arizona State University 2023
Interests: Labor and Labor Movements, Organizations, Occupations and Work, Sociology of Culture, Theory
Advisor: Michael McQuarrie
Previous Students
2026 Graduates
Julissa Duran
Angelica Lopez
Ronae Matriano, Advisor: Brandon Yoo
Priscilla Owiredu
Haining Ren, Advisor: Laura Hanish
Arianna Vargas, Advisor: Rocio Garcia
2025 Graduates
Annie Ferguson, Advisor: Monica McDermott
Stephanie Thibault, Advisor: Becky Ladd
2024 Graduates
Karina Cahill, Advisor: Kimberly Updegraff, Roy Levy
Aubrey Hoffer, Advisor: Dawn DeLay
Juyoung Kim, Advisor: Monica Tsethlikai
Jean Abigail Saavedra, Advisor: Hyung Chol (Brandon) Yoo
Chang (Jenny) Zhao, Advisor: Rebecca White
Bobbi Woods, Advisor: Becky Ladd
2023 Graduates
Brandon Clifford, Advisor: Natalie Eggum
Abigail Gabriel, Advisor: Hyung Chol (Brandon) Yoo
Jayley Janssen, Advisor: Eleanor Seaton
Yen-Lin Lee, Advisor: Advisor: Natalie Eggum
Stefanie Martinez-Fuentes, Advisor: Adriana Umana-Taylor, Kimberly Updegraff
Kamryn Morris, Advisor: Eleanor Seaton
Stephan Scrofani, Advisor: Carol Martin, Dawn DeLay
Daye Son, Advisor: Kimberly Updegraff
Kenton Woods, Advisor: Laura Hanish
2022 Graduates
Brittney Alexander, Advisor: Richard Fabes
Khaerannisa Cortes, Advisor: Becky Ladd and Gary Ladd
Jayley Janssen, Advisor: Eleanor Seaton, Tracy Spinrad, Richard Fabes
Diana L. Jenkins, Advisor: Carol Martin
Yen-Lin Lee, Advisor: Dawn DeLay and Richard Fabes
Longfeng Li, Advisor: Carlos Valiente
Jamie Theresa Lopez, Advisor: Tracy Spinrad
Ana Maria Melenez Guevara, Advisor: Sarah Lindstrom Johnson
Kamryn Morris, Advisor: Eleanor Seaton and Sarah Lindstrom Johnson
Sarah Parks, Advisor: Brandon Yoo
Daye Son, Advisor: Kimberly Updegraff
Stephan Scrofani, Advisor: Carol Martin
Jingyi Xu, Advisor: Natalie Eggum
2021 Graduates
Stefanie Fuentes, Advisor: Adriana Umana-Taylor
Ashley Fraser, Advisor: Tracy Spinrad
Matthew Nielson, Advisor: Carol Martin
2020 Graduates
Annabelle Lin Atkin, Advisor: Brandon Yoo
Rachel Cook, Advisor: Natalie Wilkens
Diana Gal-Szabo, Advisor: Tracy Spinrad
Chanler Hilley, Advisor: Sarah Lindstrom Johnson
Kevin Korous, Advisor: José M. Causadias
Matthew Nielson, Advisor: Carol Martin
Michelle Pasco, Advisor: Rebecca M. B. White
Shannon Rupp, Advisor: Steve Elliott
Sonya Xinyue Xiao, Advisors: Tracy Spinrad, Carol Martin
2019 Graduates
M. Dalal Safa, Advisor: Rebecca M.B. White
Lauren van Huisstede, Advisor: Keith Crnic
Danielle Seay, Advisor: Adriana Umaña-Taylor
Danming An, Advisor: Natalie Wilkens
2018 Graduates
Rebecca Berger, Advisor: Carlos Valiente
Larissa Gaias, Advisor: Sarah Lindstrom Johnson
Ray Reichenberg, Advisor: Roy Levy
2017 Graduates
Casey Sechler, Advisor: Gary Ladd
2016 Graduates
Naomi Andrews, Advisor: Laura Hanish
Diamond Bravo, Advisor: Adriana Umaña-Taylor
Katherine (Kat) Cheng, Advisor: Jenefer Husman
Dawn England, Advisor: Carol Martin
Idean Ettekal, Advisor: Gary Ladd
Flora Farago, Advisor: Beth Swadener
Ryan Field, Advisor:Carol Martin
Kristen Granger, Advisor: Laura Hanish
Amy Pennar, Advisor: Bob Bradley
Franklin Poulsen, Advisor: F. Scott Christopher
Krista Puruhito, Advisor: Jenefer Husman
Adam Rogers, Advisor: Kimberly Updegraff
Samantha Sang, Advisor: Kimberly Updegraff
Linlin Zhang, Advisor: Natalie Wilkens
2015 Graduates
Crystal Bryce, Advisor: Robert Bradley
Laura Clary, Advisor: Becky Ladd
Erin Gaskin, Advisor: Sandra Simpkins
Shawna Petersen, Advisor: Richard Fabes
Chara Price, Advisor: Sandra Simpkins
2014 Graduates
Priscilla M. Goble, Advisors: Laura Hanish and Carol Martin
Elizabeth Harvey-Mendoza, Advisor: Adriana Umaña-Taylor
Danyel Vargas Moosmann, Advisor: Mark Roosa