Curious about a former classmate? We have collected profiles from a number of our alumni. If you would like to submit a profile or would like your information updated, please email Susan Andre at sandre@umn.edu

William D. Allen received his Ph.D. in 1996 (advisor, Bill Doherty). He is currently in private practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist in Minneapolis. He also works as a mental health consultant to the state and local agencies, is Director of Outreach at Life Innovations (Roseville, Minnesota), and is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. William recently recieved the College of Human Ecology's Horizon Award. His research and teaching interests include the influence of ethnicity on family functioning, and the familial experiences of males across the lifespan. 

John Beaton received his Ph.D. in 2002 (advisor, Bill Doherty). He grew up in a small town outside of Toronto, Ontario. He and wife Anna Marie have a daughter. John is interested in intergenerational relationships across the lifespan, and community/family partnerships. He enjoys playing and watching all sports. He recently accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Couple and Family Therapy Program, University of Guelph.

Walter Bera received his Ph.D. in 1995 (advisor, Bill Doherty). He is director of the Kenwood Therapy Center in Minneapolis. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, AAMFT approved supervisor and AFTA member. He is also an adjunct faculty member of St. Mary’s University Graduate School, the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology, and the University of Minnesota School of Social Work.

Jason Carroll received his Ph.D. in 1995 (advisor, Bill Doherty). He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Marriage, Family, and Human Development, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University. His current research interests include the development of marital competence during emerging adulthood and early marriage and the effectiveness of couples and marriage education. Jason and his wife, Stefani, live in Lehi, Utah and are parents of 3 wonderful children- Garret, Austin and Lindsey.

David Dollahite received his Ph.D. in 1988 (advisor, Kathy Rettig). He is currently a professor in the School of Family Life, Brigham Young University. His teaching and research interests include fathering, religion, and family life. Dave and his wife Mary are the parents of seven terrific kids.

Patrick Doyle received his Ph.D. in 1984 (advisor, David Olson). He is currently the clinic director of Eagan Counseling Clinic, an outpatient mental health center in Eagan, Minnesota. He has supervisory responsibility for the outpatient psychotherapy and psychiatry services, day treatment programs, community support programs, and the in-home family therapy program.

Manfred van Dulmen received his Ph.D. in 2001 (advisor, Hal Grotevant). He currently works as a post-doc research associate for the Minnesota Longitudinal Study on Parents and Children at the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota. In addition, he serves as a statistical consultant for several ongoing research projects on children and families at both the University of Minnesota and Search Institute Minneapolis. He has recently accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Quanitative Psychology at Kent State University, effective August 2004. His research and teaching interests include adolescent development in the family context, positive relationship development, measurement and methodology, multiple informants, and adolescent behavior problems.

Rosemary Dummer received her MA in 1972 (advisor, Richard Hey). She is currently an Individual, Marriage, and Family Psychologist. She has a license in both psychology and marriage and family therapy, and has had a practice in a medical clinic for over 30 years. Her interests include social justice and current political affairs, practicing love and commitment in every community she’s in, traveling (either with Elderhostel or on her own, both at home and abroad), meeting and traveling with people from other cultures. Her hobbies are downhill skiing, tennis, biking, and entertaining friends and family in her home and cabin. She intends to retire at 103, or whenever she loses her passion for her work.

Annelies Hagemeister received her Ph.D. in 2002 (advisor, Paul Rosenblatt). She has been engaged in research and curriculum projects at the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse (School of Social Work) since 1996. She continues work with Drs. Jeff Edleson and Sandra Beeman on several research projects focusing on the overlapping issues of domestic violence, child maltreatment, and social systems’ responses to people in these situations. She has co-authored journal articles, a human services training curriculum, and made many presentations on the topic. Annelies has taught courses in social work, family social science, and family life education programs, as well as developing and facilitating professional training and providing social work consultation. Her social service experiences include direct work with children, prevention education, crisis intervention, program evaluation, and grief and loss research (with Dr. Paul Rosenblatt). Annelies holds Master degrees in both Social Work and Family Social Science, as well as a certificate in Child Abuse Prevention Studies, all from the University of Minnesota. She is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker in Minnesota, and a magna cum laude graduate of Macalester College, St. Paul, MN. She lives in St. Paul with her husband and two children.

Dottie Hammer received her MA in 1972 (advisor, Paul Rosenblatt). She is now retired, but previously worked as the human resource director at Cannon Falls nursing home. She is involved in making hunger issues known to individuals and congregations in South East Minnesota. She chairs the Cannon Falls CROP Walk for Hunger. She also serves on the Board of the Cannon Falls Affordable Housing Initiative. Her interests include creative cooking, quilting, keeping fit and doing volunteer work.

Karen Hasse received her Ph.D. in 1986 (advisor, Pauline Boss). She is currently a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed psychologist in private practice based in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Her practice includes individual therapy with adults and children, couple therapy, and family therapy, as well as custody and parenting planning mediation with divorcing or divorced parents.

Eun Min Hyun received her Ph.D. in 1992 (advisors, Jan Hogan and Jean Bauer). She is currently professor and Head of the Department of Home Management, College of Human Ecology, Andong National University, Korea. Her teaching interests include family relations, family welfare, and gerontology. She is also interested in providing workshops on marriage preparation and alcohol prevention for students and adults. Her research interests are in developing educational programs for stepfamilies and the elderly. She received an overseas research fund from Andong National University for development of a program for the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota from June 2002 until February 2003.

Karen Irvin received her Ph.D. in 1995 (advisor, Jim Maddock). She is currently in private practice at Minnesota Mediation & Counseling Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she works as a mediator, custody evaluator, parenting consultant, and an individual, marriage, and family therapist. She also does a great deal of training in mediation and custody evaluations. In addition, she is an adjunct faculty member in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Argosy University.

Alletta Jervey received her Ph.D. in 1982 (advisor, Paul Rosenblatt). She is currently a psychologist in private practice in Roseville, Minnesota. Her interests include acting, gardening, and her grandchildren.

Kerry Kriener-Althen received her Ph.D. in 2002 (advisor, Kathy Rettig). Kerry is from northeast Iowa and received her BS (1992) in Child, Parent, and Community Services and MS (1995) in General Graduate Studies (Social Science, with an emphasis in family policy evaluation) from Iowa State University. She worked as a social program evaluator at the University of Tennessee for 4 years before returning to graduate school. Her professional interests are in the areas of family policy, program evaluation, and longitudinal research methods. Kerry is living and working in California where she is employed at SRI as an Early Childhood Researcher.

Mary Kurcinka received her MA in 1977 (advisor, Dick Fowler). She is currently self-employed as an international trainer providing instruction for parents and professionals working with families. She is the author of three books: Raising Your Spirited Child, Raising Your Spirited Child Workbook, and Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles. Her website is located at: http://www.parentchildhelp.com/

HeeKyung Kwon recieved a Ph.D. in 2003. Kwon has recently been appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies at ChangWon National University of Korea.

Herbert Laube received his Ph.D. in 1979 (advisor, David Olson). He is currently director of program development at the Alfred Adler Graduate School, adjunct professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology at the University of Minnesota, and president of Life Map Institute, a private practice serving individuals, couples and families.

Jane Lillestol received her Ph.D. in 1977 (advisor, Richard Hey). She is currently an independent consultant based in Minnesota and Arizona, and Professor Emeritus, Syracuse University. In addition, she is on the faculty of the University of Phoenix, teaching in their Doctorate of Management program.

Sherry Machen received her Ph.D. in 1992 (advisors, Kathy Rettig and Ann Masten). She is currently a licensed psychologist in private practice, providing individual, couple, and family psychotherapy in Wayzata, Minnesota.

Sally Maison received her Ph.D. in 1981 (advisor Gerhard Neubeck). In September of 2001 she closed her practice and moved with her husband to Bozeman, Montana. They have built a house at the top of the world and are happy living in their beloved mountains. She loved her practice, but also loves the freedom to hike, read, ski, and play. She’s also pretty fond of playing with her two grandkids that live in Bozeman.

Ramona Marotz-Baden received her Ph.D. in 1970 (advisor, Irving Tallman). She is currently a professor in family and consumer sciences at Montana State University-Bozeman. Her teaching and research interests include adaptations to economic change in environmental amenity-rich rural areas, family stress and crisis, changing gender roles, and families in social context.

Libbie Pelletier received her MA in 2002 (advisor, Virginia Zuiker). She is from Eden Prairie. Her interests include at-risk youth and their families. Libbie is currently a social worker with the Anoka County Child Protection Agency.

Elisabeth Robbins received her Ph.D. in 1998 (advisor, David Olson). She is currently the lead therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital Family Counseling Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She conducts outpatient mental health therapy with individuals, couples, and families, and inpatient therapy with groups, family assessments, and individual therapy.

Judy Rommel received her Ph.D. in 1989 (advisor, Jan Hogan). She is currently a professor and program director of Human Development Family Studies, College of Human Development, University of Wisconsin-Stout. She recently completed a two-year term as Vice-President for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Her research interests include family resource perception and program evaluation. Her teaching interests include family resource methodology, grant writing, and divorce and remarriage.

Janet Sarver received her MA in 1995 (advisor, Jim Maddock). She is currently a children’s mental health worker for Isanti County Family Services in Cambridge, Minnesota, where she has worked since July 1996. She has been a children’s mental health worker for 3 years. She received her MSW in October of 1995 and became a LISW in 2001. Janet and her husband, Paul, have two children, Kelsey and Joshua. They live in the Forest Lake area and enjoy working in their yard, going for bike rides, and socializing with their neighbors.

Majorie Schaffer received her Ph.D. in 1993 (advisors, Pauline Boss and Shirley Zimmerman). She is currently a professor of nursing and director of the Master of Arts in Nursing program at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her teaching interests include health policy, community health nursing, and nursing research. Current research interests focus on ethical decision-making at the end of life and service-learning partnerships.

Karen Schmid received her Ph.D. in 1994 (advisor, Hal Grotevant). She is currently special assistant to the provost at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. In addition to her administrative appointment, she is also associate professor of Child Development and Family Life. She has taught Family Relationships, practicum in child development and family life, and a graduate seminar in Marriage and Family Life. Her teaching and research interests include curriculum development across the University, student outcomes assessment, active and experiential learning, and community engagement.

Gretchen Stein received her Ph.D. in 1985 (advisor, Gerhard Neubeck). She is currently President and CEO of the Sand Creek Group Ltd., a national behavioral health care center, located in Stillwater, Minnesota. The Sand Creek Group designs, administers, and delivers employee assistance programs locally, regionally, and nationally. Their clients include The Executive Office of the President of the United States, Major League Baseball, the USDA, and 82 counties in Minnesota.

Volker Thomas received his Ph.D. in 1990 (advisor, David Olson). He is currently an associate professor and director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, at Purdue University. His research and teaching interests include family assessment, creativity in family therapy, family therapy with economically disadvantaged families, grief and loss, gender and multicultural perspectives in family therapy, family therapy with children, ethical and professional issues, and supervision in family therapy training.

Jane Tornatore received her Ph.D. in 1998 (advisor, Pauline Boss). She is currently project director for a National Institute on Aging small business initiatives grant. The project is to provide validation of an early cognitive impairment screening measure. Jane is also facilitator for an Alzheimer’s Association sponsored group for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in Seattle. She was recently elected to the board of NCFR.