Human Development and Family Studies Commitment to Access and Success

Our Human Development and Family Studies Ramily strives to promote community, access, and success in our teaching, research, service, and outreach. We create a supportive environment where we strive to listen to and respond to all voices.

Colorado State University's Land Grant Mission

Inspired by Colorado State University’s land-grant heritage and mission, we in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies are committed to excellence, setting the standard for public research universities in teaching, research, service, and extension for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado, the United States, and the world.

Outside group photo of the DEIJ Committee

Research

Researchers are actively engaged in meaningful work in the areas of emotion regulation, healthy aging, peer mentoring, healthy development of children with disabilities, interventions for substance abuse, and positive intergenerational family relationships.

Focusing on the well-being of rural adolescents and young adults

Melissa Fenton’s research aims to reduce behavioral health disparities in historically underserved adolescents and young adults. Her main research focus is on preventing behavioral health problems among rural adolescents and young adults.

Examining early-life adversity in child and family health

Sami Brown’s overarching research focuses on examining the risk and protective pathways through which early life adversity shapes child and family health and development and translating this knowledge into health-promotive interventions. Through her prior clinical work and training, she recognized how child- and family-serving systems play a critical role in affecting the outcomes of adversity-exposed children and families, which propelled her to ask questions about how practices and programs could be enhanced to foster health and wellness for populations living in high-risk environments.

Health and well-being of minoritized youth

Ana Gutierrez-Colina’s research aims to improve the health and well-being of youth and families from historically underserved and marginalized backgrounds. Her interests are at the intersection of socioemotional, cognitive, and contextual factors that underlie health behavior and health behavior change. She studies how health barriers such as depressive symptoms function as mechanisms and potential intervention targets for core health behaviors: sleep, physical activity, and eating.

Helping individuals with differing abilities learn and grow

Led by investigators Deborah Fidler and Lisa Daunhauer, the Developmental Disabilities Laboratory uses developmental science to understand how individuals with differing abilities learn and grow. The lab researches how areas of strength and vulnerability emerge during the earliest years of development, and how to identify children who are at risk for additional difficulties and diagnoses. They use the information they generate to create new approaches and innovations for families, caregivers, service providers, and educators.

HDFS Research Labs

Outreach

Through community partnerships, we support youth, families, and older adults and promote positive mental and behavioral health outcomes. Students are actively engaged and shape programs in meaningful ways that support community partners.

Ram Scholars

RAM Scholars is an inclusive college program for adults with an intellectual disability who would like to build career-related skills. The program offers inclusive training with individualized support in the field of agricultural sciences and related STEM fields to individuals with intellectual disabilities who are 18 years or older.

Centers for Counseling, Assessment, and Mentoring

We provide services that promote the well-being of children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families while creating a safe environment that honors all backgrounds, family forms, and experiences. We do not discriminate or refuse services to anyone on the basis of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Prevention Research Center

The Prevention Research Center is a trans-disciplinary center committed to studying the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective intervention programs that promote individual and family health and wellness and aim to reduce the risk for problems such as substance misuse, physical, and mental health issues, and violence. The four divisions of the PRC are Healthy Schools, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Healthy Aging, and Community-University Partnership.

Student Stories

Outstanding Human Development and Family Studies Graduate Isabelle Misegadis

As a first-generation college student, Isabelle Misegadis discovered a welcoming environment and culture at CSU where she connected with research opportunities, mentors, and a career path.

Colorado State University Human Development and Family Studies student Isabelle Misegadis smiles in a CSU Rams sweatshirt.

First-generation student experience – Que’Nique Blake, Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Que’Nique Blake is a first-generation student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University. Blake utilizes scholarships designed for first-generation students to aid her success at CSU. Blake describes first-generation students as trailblazers who illustrate the blueprint for the next generation.

Colorado State University Human Development and Family Studies student QueNique Blake.

Outstanding Human Development and Family Studies grad finds success in academics, arts, and cultural background

Lydia Soto-Rodriguez, an outstanding grad from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University, has found her path forward in her passion for trauma-informed care, with the help of her cultural background and her achievements in the arts.

Colorado State University Human Development and Family Studies student Lydia Soto Rodriguez smiles on CSU's campus.

Teaching and Learning

Students in HDFS have access to a variety of courses and academic programs that emphasize CSU’s principles of community, including the Disability and Neurodiversity Certificate, Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor, and the Leadership and Advocacy Concentration among others. Throughout all of our curricula, students have the opportunity to learn about health disparities, disabilities, aging, resiliency, voices from underrepresented communities, and many other topics. Our faculty teach and actively engage with students to ensure that our curriculum reflects diverse perspectives and integrates student feedback, interests, and perspectives.

Get Involved

We value and encourage participation by all students in our department activities. Check out these opportunities for ways you can get involved.

HDFS Peer Mentoring Program

For our first-generation students and/or multicultural students, this year-long program will provide you with a supportive community to help you successfully navigate your transition to college. If you are already a student in HDFS, you can apply to be a mentor in this program.

A group of 15 students poses outdoors in two rows

Campus Connections

Campus Connections is a powerful campus-based therapeutic mentoring program for youth, ages 10-18, who have experienced adversity. In our program, youth are paired in one-on-one mentoring relationships with undergraduate Colorado State University students through a 3-credit upper division course (HDFS 470A). Apply to be a youth or a mentor in this program.

SOUL

Student Outreach and Undergraduate Leadership is a student-run organization that is aimed at developing leadership among HDFS students. Members work with the community through a variety of leadership and service projects gaining valuable skills along the way.

A member of the student outreach undergraduate leadership hands out candy during Treatsylvania.

Gerontology Club

Gerontology Club opens opportunities for intergenerational connections and conversations to residents and students alike. The club seeks to volunteer with older adults and local organizations as well as to learn about issues and disparities in aging.

Explore College and University Resources

Fall 2024 Data provided by CSU Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness

31% First-Generation Students
28% of Students Identify as Diverse
15% Non Traditional Students