Chris Maniotes, M.S.
Chris is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. His research centers on relationship dynamics in families and couples, with lines of work exploring IPV, routines/rituals, and social media use. His work has touched on relationship transitions, such as the transition from dating to marriage (routines & rituals) and marriage to divorce (IPV & custody). Recent work includes projects on the role of family and couple routines/rituals in the social media domain. He has published in academic outlets such as Journal of Social and Personal Relationships and Journal of Family Theory and Review and featured in mainstream outlets such as Forbes.
So Young Park, M.S., J.D.
So Young is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She obtained her J.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and received a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. She conducts research examining the impact of law and policy on families, specifically in the context of divorce and intimate partner violence. She is particularly interested in illuminating how the legal system could improve in providing vulnerable populations increased access to justice and resources to overcome their adversities.
Tani Akinbode, M.S.
Tani is a doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She previously completed her Master’s degree in Community Health from the same university 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 second-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 first-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.
Alia Alicea
Alia is a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2022. Alia’s research interests broadly focus on community health, community resources, and maternal health. Through the MAKE IT lab, Alia hopes to continue work that can improve one’s overall health, well-being, and safety.