Tani Akinbode, M.S.
Tani is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She previously completed her Master’s degree in Community Health from UIUC in 2019. Her research interests broadly focus on trauma and abuse and their impact on women and children. Tani’s main area of research focuses on how IPV affects parental functioning and behavior. Some of Tani’s recent work includes a project that explores the multidimensional nature of IPV and how it affects the mother-child relationship. Through the MAKE IT lab, Tani hopes to continue work that promotes healthy relationships and lifestyles for IPV victims, focusing specifically on mothers and children.
Matthew Rivas-Koehl, M.S.
Matthew is a third-year doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. He completed his Master’s degree in Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies at Texas Tech University in 2021. Matthew’s main areas of research are the intersection of sexuality and relationships, and the general promotion of health and wellbeing for queer individuals across the lifespan. Some of Matthew’s recent work include projects related to sexual satisfaction among queer men, examining patterns of teen dating violence, and work related to promoting the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth in schools. Matthew frequently employs feminist and queer theories in his work to interrogate structural oppression that marginalized individuals face. He hopes to continue work that promotes healthy romantic and social relationships for all individuals, focusing specifically on queer and other marginalized individuals.
Maya Carter
Maya is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a certificate in Clinical Psychological Science at Indiana University in 2021. Maya’s research interests broadly focus on intimate partner violence within the context of divorce/separation in the family court system. She hopes to continue work that promotes safety during the court process for families experiencing divorce/separation and IPV.
Emily Gerlikovski, M.A.
Emily is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Communication. She completed her Master’s degree in Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2022. Emily’s research focuses on applying theories of identity and resilience to better understand how disenfranchised and marginalized families navigate difficult conversations and transitions, often in the context of health and relationships. Additionally, she investigates who benefits or what is benefitted from family communication by interrogating how “disruptions” to “traditional” family life courses are socially stigmatized or criticized as nonnormative or deviant. Through her research, Emily hopes to continue work that highlights voices of families and family members who are often socially erased or ignored.
