Our Faculty
FULL-TIME EDUCATORS IN THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Interested in learning how these faculty found their niche in Family Science? Click here.
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Erin Boyd-Soisson, Ph.D., CFLE
Associate Professor of Human Development & Family Science
University of Texas at Austin
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Teaching Interests: |
Development courses, particularly Child, Adolescent, and Adult; Social Research; Play & Development |
Research Interests: |
Understanding infant care, particularly breastfeeding practices, from a cultural and family systems perspective |
| Service Interests: |
Mentoring students in honors projects and advising |
| Select Recent Publications: |
Boyd-Soisson, E.F., & Hamon, R.R. (2007). Helping family science students make themselves more marketable: Identifying and developing the skills employers want. National Council on Family Relations’ FAMILY FOCUS, 55 (3), 15-16. |
| Current Project(s): |
Using family folklore as a teaching tool; Understanding breastfeeding from family systems and ecological perspectives |
| Hobbies: |
Playing with my family; Being outside; Scrapbooking with my sisters; Cooking/grilling |
| Family: |
My husband Tim and I have been married for 8 years. We have two very special children, Shepard (5) and Faith (3). |
| Contact Information: |
Boyer 353; EBoyd@messiah.edu; (717) 796-1800, ext. 2254; Personal Webpage |
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Raeann R. Hamon, Ph.D., CFLE
Distinguished Professor of Family Science & Gerontology
Chair, Department of Human Development & Family Science Virginia Tech - Blacksburg, VA |
Teaching Interests: |
Family dynamics/theories; Marital relationships; Sociology of aging; Strategies of family life education; Opportunities in human development and family science |
Research Interests: |
Families in later life; Intergenerational relationships; Mate selection; Family science pedagogy; Professional issues in family science; Bahamian family life |
| Service Interests: |
Family life education programming (e.g., marriage preparation and enrichment) for churches and communities |
| Select Recent Publications: |
Boyd-Soisson, E.F., & Hamon, R.R. (2007). Helping family science students make themselves more marketable: Identifying and developing the skills employers want. National Council on Family Relations’ FAMILY FOCUS, 55 (3), 15-16.
Sherif Trask, B., & Hamon, R.R. (Eds.). (2007). Cultural diversity and families: Expanding perspectives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Hamon, R. R. (Ed.). (2006). International family studies: Developing curricula and teaching tools. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.
Hamon, R. R., & Ingoldsby, B. B. (Eds.). (2003). Mate selection across cultures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. |
| Current Project(s): |
Smith, S. R., Hamon, R. R., & Ingoldsby, B. B. (In press). Exploring family theories (2 nd ed.). New York: Oxford University.
Hamon, R.R., & Hollinger, M. (In press). Cross-cultural differences in courtship and dating. In H.T. Reis, and S.K. Sprecher (Eds.). Encyclopedia of human relationships. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Hagenbuch, D.J., & Hamon R. R. (In process). Understanding Students' Attitudes Toward Majoring in Human Development and Family Science. |
| Hobbies: |
Antiquing, Walking/exercising; Writing; Spending time with my family |
| Family: |
Married to Jeff Hamon since 1982; Have a daughter, Eliana (born in 2002) |
| Contact Information: |
Boyer 355; RHamon@messiah.edu; (717) 796-1800, ext. 2850; Personal Webpage |
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Paul Johns, LMFT, CFLE
Instructor of Human Development & Family Science Bethel Theological Seminary - St. Paul, MN
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| Professional Interests: |
Marriage and family therapy counseling; Integration of HDFS and theology/faith |
| Service Interests: |
Marriage and family education / enrichment in church congregations (retreats, conferences, etc); Speaking/preaching; Deacon at my home church (Reading Evangelical Free Church) |
| Current Project(s): |
Practice Christ-centered marriage and family therapy in own part-time private practice (Tree of Life Counseling) in Reading; Pre-marital education presenter for Family Life Services (Topton, PA); Developing new marital enrichment weekend retreat; Break-out session leader for Iron Sharpens Iron men's conference in Reading area; Periodic preaching/speaking engagements at local churches (Sunday morning and/or special events) |
| Hobbies: |
Collecting rocks and minerals; watching sports; reading email :-) |
| Family: |
I have been married to Melanie for almost 12 years and I have three children: Brendan, age 9, Lindsey age 6, and Aubrey, age 3. |
| Contact Information: |
Boyer 387; PJohns@messiah.edu; (717) 796-1800, ext. 2603; Personal Webpage (Coming Soon) |
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Michelle V. Knights, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Human Development
& Family Science
University of Delaware |
| Teaching Interests: |
Child development; Parent-child interactions; Human development; Dynamics of family life; Culturally diverse families; Family violence |
| Research Interests: |
Child development; Social emotional development in young children; Attachment related topics |
| Service Interests: |
Community capacity building; Parenting in diverse populations; Mission trips |
| Hobbies: |
Traveling; Reading |
| Family: |
I have three beautiful children: Selby, Gabrielle, and Celine |
| Contact Information: |
Boyer 357;MKnights@messiah.edu; (717) 796-1800, ext. 2190; Personal Webpage (Coming Soon) |
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Michael Njoroge Mbito, Ph.D., CFLE
Assistant Professor of Human Development & Family Science
University of Tennessee-Knoxville |
| Teaching Interests: |
Marital relationships; Parenting; Adolescent development; Child Development |
| Research Interests: |
Family influences on adolescents' social competence; Rituals and adolescents' transition to adulthood across cultures |
| Service Interests: |
HIV/AIDS orphans' support and empowerment; African immigrants Christian ministries and volunteer work; Working with HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa |
| Select Recent Publications: |
Mbito, M. N., Julia, A. M. (2008). Transfer of the Kenyan Kikuyu male circumcision ritual to future generations living in the United States. Journal of Adolescence, In Press, Available online 21 February 2008. |
| Current Project(s): |
Adolescent social competence research in East Africa - Kenya; Perceptions of the circumcision ritual among the Kikuyu immigrants in America |
| Hobbies: |
Carpentry, gardening and writing |
| Family: |
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| Contact Information: |
Boyer 385; MMbito@messiah.edu; (717) 796-1800, ext. 7205; Personal Webpage (Coming Soon) |
PART-TIME CONTRIBUTORS TO THE DEPARTMENT
Linda Adams, M.S.
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Serves as our FCS Student Teacher Supervisor |
Clark Agapakis, M.A.
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Typically teaches Death, Grief & Caring (HDFS 218) in J-term |
| Eldon Fry, College Pastor |
Occasionally teaches Foundations of Marriage & Family (HDFS 101) or Adult Development (HDFS 312) |
| Dawn Gearhart, M.Ed. |
Teaches Family and Consumer Sciences Curriculum I and II |
| Jennifer Ransil, MFT |
Teaches Adult Development (HDFS 312) |
MESSIAH COLLEGE COLLEAGUES CONTRIBUTING TO THE FCS CURRICULUM
| Department of Nutrition & Dietetics |
Kathryn Witt, Ph.D., Amy E. Binkoski, Ph.D. |
| Department of Visual Arts |
Christine Forsythe, M.F.A. |
| Department of Education |
Joseph Barnes, Ph.D., Suzanne Fennell, M.S., Jennifer Fisler, D.Ed., Donald Murk, Ph.D., Nancy Patrick, PH.D., Kevin Zook, Ph.D. |
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