University of Missouri - Human Development and Family Science

Tomorrow is International Day of Play, observed every June 11th. This is a time to champion and protect every child's right to play. faculty Rachel Thibodeau-Nielsen recently spoke with KBIA 91.3 FM's Thinking Out Loud to discuss how, 'Play has a place for us all.'
Listen here: https://www.kbia.org/podcast/thinking-out-loud/2026-06-02/play-has-a-place-for-us-all-recognizing-celebrating-and-elevating-the-importance-of-play

Mizzou: College of Education & Human Development

Listen to faculty member and Missouri 4-H State Specialist Steven Krauss on the latest Volunteer Vibe podcast as he interviews new HDFS faculty member Dr. Tim Tanner.
Tim, who became Missouri 4-H’s senior program leader in Fall 2025, discusses the Vision 2045 strategic plan and how youth, staff, and volunteers can help drive youth thriving across Missouri.

Listen to past episodes with faculty members Clay Hurdle and Kellie Seals and more here: https://volunteer-vibe-4h.podbean.com/

Mizzou: College of Education & Human Development MU Extension

Vision 2045: Missouri 4‑H’s Roadmap to Stronger Youth and Communities with Dr. Tim Tanner | 4-H Volunteer Vibe In this episode, Steven and Caydance sit down with Dr. Tim Tanner, Missouri 4‑H’s new senior program leader, to introduce his Vision 2045 strategic plan, share highlights from statewide listening sessions, and discuss how 4‑H can return to its origin story to better serve youth and communities...

Explore what happens when couples break up - and sometimes get back together! faculty Dr. Kale Monk recently spoke with KBIA 91.3 FM 's Thinking Out Loud podcast and discussed his research on relationship cycling and premarital hesitation. Learn more about resources that can help support positive connections and relationship skills via the ShowMe Connection project: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/showme-connection

Listen to the podcast here: https://www.kbia.org/podcast/thinking-out-loud/2026-05-28/the-ross-rachel-effect-navigating-breakups-and-loneliness-in-our-relationships

Mizzou: College of Education & Human Development MU Extension MU Extension - Health and Human Sciences

✨ Student spotlight on Anna Schatz, Child Life major ✨

✨ Student spotlight on Anna Schatz, Child Life major ✨

“I chose the College of Education & Human Development because of the community of students and educators who encourage you to become the best version of yourself. I knew this college was right for me because of the hands-on learning and supportive environment.”

Big congrats to our tiniest Tigers! 🐯💛🐯🖤

Congratulations to our graduate student class of 2026 and congrats to all those graduating this spring! 🐯 🎓

Congratulations to our graduates and all the grads this weekend!

Congratulations Janice!

Class of 2026 Spotlight 🎓 Janice Tee, MA, Human Development & Family Science

"The master’s program in Human Development and Family Science at Mizzou has helped me turn my passion for understanding people and relationships into meaningful work that supports families, students, and communities."

Please join in congratulating Prabhath P***e Waththage in successfully defended his dissertation titled, "Macro-level Healthcare Policy in the United States and Child Psychopathology: Temporal Changes, Age-differentiated Impacts and the Roles of Social Determinants." Prabhath is advised by Dr. Louis Manfra.

We wish you the best! Congratulations Dr. P***e Waththage!

Please join us in congratulating Uma Awasthi on her successful defense of her master's thesis titled, " Food Insecurity and Child Self-Regulation: Mediating Roles of Parental Depressive Symptoms and Multidimensional Parenting Practices Among Preschoolers From Low-Income Families." Uma is advised by Dr. Shinyoung Jeon. Uma will also pursue her doctoral degree with .

Congratulations Uma!