Current Students
Doctoral Students
Emily Koochel
M.S., Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University
M.S., Personal Financial Planning, Texas Tech University
B.S., Personal Financial Planning, Kansas State University
Hometown: Great Bend, Kansas
Professional Interests: Financial transparency and financial management strategies as it relates to marital satisfaction, premarital financial counseling and financial disclosure as predictors of marital dissolution, money personalities and mate selection
Co-Major Professors: Dr. Mindy Markham and Dr. Sonya Britt-Lutter
Personal Interests: spending time with family and friends; traveling; and being active through cycling, yoga, Pilates; and cheering on the Cats!
"I am research driven to improve the lives of families; if we improve the lives of one, we have the power to improve the lives of all."
Jessie Piper
M.S., Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University
B.S., Psychology and Communication Studies, Kansas State University
Hometown: Rozel, Kansas
Professional Interests: Grandparents raising grandchildren, Family Life Education as a resource for grandfamilies, grandparenthood
Co-Major Professors: Dr. Mindy Markham and Dr. Erin Yelland
Personal Interests: CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting, riding dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles
"KSU's small-town, family feel is the reason I have stayed since 2007 and why I will continue to do so after we have a family."
Hilary D. Pippert
M.S., Marriage, Family, & Human Development, Brigham Young University
B.S., Family Life, Brigham Young University
Hometown: Parker, Colorado
Professional Interests: family processes, religion and family relationships
Co-Major Professors: Dr. Anthony Ferraro and Dr. Mindy Markham
Personal Interests: hiking, reading, jogging, time with family, cross-stitching
"The faculty really care about their students and are willing to work with you to make sure you get the best education you personally need and want to reach your professional goals."
Morgan Rakestraw
M.S., Sport and Leisure Management, University of Nevada - Las Vegas
B.S., Athletic Training, Kansas State University
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Professional Interests: Family dynamics in youth sport, empathy in athletic training, parent and family communication in athletic training
Major Professor: Dr. Mindy Markham
Personal Interests: hanging out with my two dauthers, Ellis (3) and Beckett (16 months), and wife, Jess; being at home in the country near Rossville, KS with our numerous pets; and traveling
"Don't let anything stop you from pursuing your goals; I am a mother of three girls under 4 and work full-time out of town. My process may not look like everyone else's, but it works for my family and me."
Courtney Witt
M.S., Marriage and Family Therapy, Friends University
B.S., Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University
Hometown: Junction City, Kansas
Professional Interests: Complex trauma in early childhood, parent/child relationships, dating and the impact of social media
Major Professor: Dr. Michelle Toews
Personal Interests: golfing, traveling, yoga, cooking, listening to podcasts, spending quality time with my daughter and husband
"My time as an undergraduate at K-State created the foundation needed for my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy. The passion in the professors and the dialogue throughout each course provided a unique learning environment - engaging, challenging, and supportive. When I decided to pursue my PhD, I knew returning to the place that cultivated my passion, Kansas State University, was the right decision."
Master's Students
Shelby Astle
B.S., Family Life, Brigham Young University
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Professional Interests: Human sexuality, parenting, family life education, emerging adulthood
Temporary Advisor: Dr. Michelle Toews
Personal Interests: Corgis, minimalism, intentional living, swimming, travel
"K-State is one of those amazing places where research comes to life to make a real difference in real families."
Sarah Colburn
B.S., Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University
Hometown: Prairie Village, Kansas
Professional Interests: Post-divorce relationships and healthy adolescent relationships and education
Major Professor: Dr. Michelle Toews
Personal Interests: anything outdoors (running, biking, yoga), my house church community, reading, and spending time with my family
"I have found my home here at K-State during my undergrad and have continued that in my graduate program. The 'family' feel is all too real, making me want to pick K-State over and over again."
Kaylee Goss
B.S., Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University
Hometown: Garden City, KS
Professional Interests: Program development, Extension
Temporary Advisor: Dr. Erin Yelland
Personal Interests: Spending time with my family and friends, exploring Manhattan, and watching movies with my husband and cat
"K-State has so many different opportunities and ways to become involved. The faculty in the AFS program strive to get to know you and your interests to help you succeed."
Cheyenne Menzies
B.S., Psychology and Family Studies, Kansas State University
Hometown: Salina, Kansas
Professional Interests: Premarital and marital relationships
Major Professor: Dr. Duane Crawford
Personal Interests: dogs, Netflix, memes, hanging out with friends, and making people laugh
"The Applied Family Science program has a collective, family feel - where all students and faculty members provide encouragement and support to one another."
Nicholle Scheibe
B.S., Child and Family Development, University of Central Missouri
Hometown: Harrisonville, Missouri
Professional Interests: Substance use, recovery, incarceration, and reentry
Major Professor: Dr. Elaine Johannes
Personal Interests: taking pictures, naps, movie and TV show references, spending time with family, singing terribly, and laughing
"The Applied Family Science faculty are genuinely interested in each of us. I love everything that I am learning, but the best part about being a part of this program is the people."
Katie Stunkel
B.S., Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University
Hometown: Manhattan, Kansas
Professional Interests: Youth development, adolescence, resiliency, environmental protective factors, families in poverty, and volunteer management
Major Professor: Dr. Elaine Johannes
Personal Interests: National Job Corps Program
"Kansas State University, the School of Family Studies and Human Services, and my major professors have made my educational experience amazing and extremely individualized. Working full-time and attending graduate school can be challenging at times. Every single one of my professors has shown me such grace and support throughout the last few years. My major professors continue to encourage, guide, and hold me accountable to ensure I reach my academic goals. The advocacy and support has made my experience at Kansas State University invaluable."
Aaren Sunderman
B.S., Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University
Hometown: Paducah, Kentucky
Professional Interests: Farm families
Major Professor: Dr. Elaine Johannes
Personal Interests: cows, bow hunting, fishing, movies
"The Applied Family Science faculty treat you like family. Everyone knows who you are and calls you by name. I like having the type of relationship with the faculty where I can walk into their offices at any time and talk to them about academics or daily life."
Renee Wilkins-Clark
B.S., Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University
Hometown: Brownsville, Tennessee
Professional Interests: Family dynamics, sibling relationships, and relationships within military families
Major Professor: Dr. Duane Crawford
Personal Interests: creative planning, playing board games, reading, and learning random facts
"The experience that you gain at Kansas State University is like no other. The concept of family is not something that is simply stated, but actively demonstrated."
Zijun Wu
B.S., Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University
M.S., Meterology, Lanzhou University
Hometown: Lanzhou, China
Professional Interests: Healthy communication between family members
Temporary Advisor: Dr. Mindy Markham
Personal Interests: Reading, watching movies, playing piano, and being together with family, friends, and pets.
"It is a pleasure to study with the wonderful faculty in the Applied Family Science program at Kansas State University. Although I am far from home, I truly believe the time I spend at K-State will be meaningful to my life and future goals."
Jing You
B.S., Industrial Design, Fuzhou University
Hometown: Xiamen, Fujian, China
Professional Interests: Religion and family relationships, premarital and marital education, parenting, sexuality education for children
Major Professor: Dr. Erin Yelland
Personal Interests: Spending time with family, church and spiritual growth, arts, and traveling
"I find encouragement and confidence from the friendly faculty and the supportive academic atmosphere in the Applied Family Science program. It is truly a family, and is preparing me to be a successful practitioner."