M.S. HDFS at TXST

Huge congratulations to Malia Benavides, our College of Applied Arts Outstanding Graduate Student in HDFS award recipient. She stands out for her strong academic performance, research productivity, and service. With a stellar GPA, she is recognized as a leader, collaborator, and critical thinker. Her independent research focuses on intergenerational bonds and ethnic‑racial identity, and she has completed two poster presentations and co‑authored a manuscript. Malia also mentors undergraduate students and volunteers with the Austin Center for Grief & Loss and Big Love Cancer Care. She’ll be heading to UT‑Austin to pursue her PhD in HDFS in Fall 2026. We can’t wait to see everything she’ll achieve in this next chapter.

Two weeks ago, we gathered for FCS in Bloom ceremony and recognized our graduate students who earned the Outstanding HDFS Graduate Student Awards. Each student has shown remarkable growth and dedication within our program.
🌻Hannah Yard — Outstanding Graduate Student in Service/Leadership
Hannah demonstrates outstanding commitment to service through her long‑term work with children and families in clinical and community settings, including weekly volunteering at Texas Children’s Hospital and Wonders & Worries. Her dedication and mentorship strengthen our program community and exemplify the spirit of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Service and Leadership.
🌺Brooke Widner — Outstanding Graduate Student in Academic Achievement
Brooke is currently collecting data for her thesis, “What affects Teachers’ Ability to Assist Students’ Mental Health Needs? Exploring Relations among Mental Health Literacy, Mental Well-Being, Empathy, and School Climate” which she developed from her own interests. She has supported the community through mentoring undergraduate assistants, and volunteering at the Austin Center for Grief and Loss. We’re thrilled that she has been accepted into a PhD program at Iowa State and excited to see all she will accomplish in the next chapter of her academic journey.
🌷Emily Garcia — Outstanding Graduate Student in Research/Scholarship
Emily is building a strong research program on peer dynamics in educational contexts through collaborative projects with faculty and her thesis on adolescent peer dynamics. She has contributed her advanced qualitative coding skills on multiple projects. She has a paper under review at a leading educational psychology journal and more work in progress. She is an exceptional emerging scholar preparing for PhD training.
We’re so proud of their incredible work and the passion they bring to HDFS!🌟

We’re thrilled to highlight alumna Tiffany Huerta for her outstanding work and dedication to supporting youth in our community. Her journey has led her to a new role as Program Manager at Communities in Schools, and we couldn’t be prouder. Congratulations, Tiffany! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.

There’s still time! The HDFS Master’s program deadline has been extended to April 30, 2026. This program could be perfect for you, if you want to deepen your understanding of human and family development and gain hands-on research and volunteer experience. Apply today and take the next step toward your future career.

We’re excited to spotlight Chelsey for her remarkable work as a child life intern at El Paso Children’s Hospital. Her internship has provided her with a variety of hands-on learning experiences that have strengthened her confidence and skills in supporting families through stressful childcare moments. Read more about her journey so far, and what she’s looking forward to learning in the second half of her internship in the post above.

Our TXST HDFS faculty and graduate students teamed up with the outstanding child life team at Dell Children’s in Austin last week to host the Teddy Bear Clinic. They provided positive medical play experiences and coping kits to help children feel more comfortable with medical procedures. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support kids through meaningful play this .

We’re proud to spotlight Allegra and the meaningful work she’s doing as a Child Life intern at University Health in San Antonio. This is an incredible accomplishment, and we can’t wait to see what comes next for her! Read about her internship experience so far in the post above.

Read more about Valisa’s internship and what she’s been learning below!⬇️⬇️
“I am very excited and fortunate to be given the opportunity to work with and learn from such skilled specialists. I am excited for my rotations and eager to meet new patients and families and continue building my skills hands-on. My experience thus far has been great, and I am ready for what lies ahead! As a child life intern at Christus Children’s Hospital, my role is to support, advocate, educate, and provide opportunities for both normative and therapeutic play to patients and family members. I am eager to learn more about how to best support patients and their families throughout their hospital journey and meet each unique need.” -Valisa Garcia😃

🍂 Happy Thanksgiving from TXST HDFS! We hope you enjoy this holiday break and cherish time with your loved ones. 🧡 Share something you’re grateful for this season in the comments below!

As you’re thinking ahead about classes for 2026, why not consider taking your learning global? 🌏 Don’t miss the Summer 2026 HDFS education abroad opportunity in India with by Professors Amber Titus-Love and Cindy Fitchpatrick! Students must schedule an interview with Professor Love ([email protected]) before applying. Click the link for more details! https://txstate-sa.terradotta.com/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=37835