CYFS Faculty
Project Personnel
Getting Ready
Jenny Benson
Early Childhood Coach, Getting Ready
BiographyJenny Benson
Jenny Benson supports early childhood educators in the Getting Ready approach through training and ongoing coaching that helps them build strong partnerships with families. Along with many years of statewide systems-level work, she brings more than 10 years of work directly with children to her role as a coach. Benson earned her Ph.D. in Education & Human Sciences from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and is both a Registered COS-P Educator and COS-P Classroom Facilitator.
Sandra Scruggs
Early Childhood Research Technician, Getting Ready
BiographySandra Scruggs
Sandra Scruggs has assisted with research-related tasks across multiple early childhood projects since 2007 and currently provides support for the Getting Ready project. She earned her master’s in nutrition, with an emphasis in public health, from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Katie Zabel
Early Childhood Coach, Getting Ready
BiographyKatie Zabel
Katie Zabel joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2013 to serve as an early childhood coach on the Getting Ready 0-3 project. She trains early childhood educators in the Getting Ready approach, and supports them through ongoing coaching to build strong partnerships with the parents and families they serve. Zabel earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education/human development from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she also received an elementary education endorsement.
INSIGHTS in Nebraska
Nicole Adams
Project Coordinator, INSIGHTS in Nebraska
BiographyNicole Adams
Nicole Adams is a project coordinator for INSIGHTS in Nebraska. She provides day-to-day assistance to the project manager in coordinating all aspects of the project and assists with all necessary activities of data collection, cleaning and coding, liaison with school districts and intervention implementation. Adams earned her master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Angela Hinrichs
Facilitator, INSIGHTS in Nebraska
33 CPEH
402-472-2448
s-ahinric2@unl.edu
Angela Hinrichs
Angela Hinrichs is the facilitator for INSIGHTS in Nebraska, a comprehensive social-emotional learning intervention for kindergarten and first-grade students in rural schools that includes parent, teacher and classroom components. She works directly with students, parents and teachers in rural communities to help them learn temperament-based strategies to solve common dilemmas. She has experience teaching in public schools.
NeMTSS
Chandra Essex
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning Specialist, NeMTSS Implementation Support Team
BiographyChandra Essex
Chandra Essex is a Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning (SEBL) Specialist with Nebraska's Multi-Tiered System of Support (NeMTSS) project. She provides professional development, technical assistance and coaching to educators regarding the social-emotional and behavioral learning needs of educators and students across the state. Essex earned her bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Fort Hays State University; her master's degree in counselor education, with an emphasis in higher education, from Emporia State University; and her specialist degree in school counseling from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She has worked 19 years in higher education, two years for a community social services organization and one year in K-12 education direction for the district's AWARE Grant.
Sara Gentry
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning Specialist, NeMTSS Implementation Support Team
BiographySara Gentry
Sara Gentry is a Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning (SEBL) Specialist with Nebraska's Multi-Tiered System of Support (NeMTSS) project. She provides professional development, technical assistance and coaching to educators regarding the social-emotional and behavioral learning needs of educators and students across the state. Gentry earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Molloy College and her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. She is a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed mental health practitioner, and has worked the past 15 years with diverse populations in a variety of settings, including her most recent role in rural schools as a school social worker.
Jill Guenther
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning Specialist, NeMTSS Implementation Support Team
BiographyJill Guenther
Jill Guenther is a Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning (SEBL) Specialist with Nebraska’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (NeMTSS) project. She provides professional development and coaching focusing on social-emotional and behavioral learning needs to support educators and students across the state. Guenther earned a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of South Dakota and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Nebraska Kearney. She has spent the last 15 years — first as speech-language pathologist, then in special education leadership — providing training, support and services to students and staff at the secondary level.
Maureen Halpenny
Training Resources & Communication Coordinator, NeMTSS
60 CPEH
maureen.halpenny@unl.edu
Maureen Halpenny
Maureen Halpenny is training resources and communication coordinator for Nebraska MTSS (NeMTSS). She provides logistical, technical, organization and communications support to the NeMTSS Implementation Support Team while it works to empower educators to support and prepare all students for success by systematically delivering a range of high-quality instruction. Originally from Omaha, Halpenny earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics education from Boston University.
Mackenzie Riedel
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning Specialist, NeMTSS Implementation Support Team
BiographyMackenzie Riedel
Mackenzie Riedel is a Social-Emotional and Behavioral Learning (SEBL) Specialist with Nebraska’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (NeMTSS). She provides professional development, technical assistance and coaching to educators regarding the social-emotional and behavioral learning needs of educators and students across the state. Riedel earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a master’s and specialist degree in school psychology from Appalachian State University. Originally from Lincoln, she returned to Nebraska and worked as a school psychologist prior to joining the CYFS team.
RESPECT Across Nebraska
Hana Sindi
Project Coordinator, RESPECT Across Nebraska
BiographyHana Sindi
Hana Sindi is a project coordinator for RESPECT Across Nebraska.
TAPP
Marianne Andersen
Research Coordination Specialist, TAPP Online
BiographyMarianne Andersen
Marianne Andersen is a research coordination specialist for TAPP Online, part of the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) research program. In this role, she supports school-based specialists as they work with parents and teachers to build partnerships between home and school to address social-behavioral concerns of students in preschool and elementary school. Andersen has more than 16 years of experience working with children and families. She holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Emma Brunke
Family-School Partnership Coach, TAPP Online
BiographyEmma Brunke
Emma Brunke is a family-school partnership coach with the TAPP Online project. In this role, she implements the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) coaching framework to support school-based specialists as they work with parents and teachers to build partnerships between home and school to address social-behavioral concerns of students in elementary school. She previously worked at CEDARS Youth Services as an associate director, where she supported the Early Childhood Development Center, Community Learning Centers and Prevention Services. Brunke holds a master’s degree in education from Loyola University-Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Daniela Cubas
Data Collector, TAPP Online
BiographyDaniela Cubas
Daniela Cubas is a data collector/coder for TAPP Online, part of the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) research program. She is responsible for on-site coding and phone and digital data collection. She works with schools and communicates broadly using bilingual skills to capture diverse data from research participants. Cubas holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Peru State College.
Danielle Elsasser
Family-School Consultant, Tele-TAPP
BiographyDanielle Elsasser
Danielle Elsasser is a family-school consultant for Tele-TAPP, part of the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) research project. She works collaboratively to provide consultative services to parents and educators in rural areas to benefit the academic and behavioral needs of students. Danielle is from Omaha, Nebraska, and earned her doctorate in educational administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Laura Escobedo
Project Manager, TAPP Online
53 CPEH
402-472-2018
lescobedo2@unl.edu
Laura Escobedo
Laura Escobedo is a project manager for TAPP Online, part of the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) research program. She is responsible for managing on-site data collection scheduling and activities, maintaining communications with school personnel, providing point-person access to rural schools, service units, and other field staff in distant and remote areas assuring seamless study activities. Escobedo earned a master’s degree in bilingual education from Texas A&M-San Antonio and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Texas A&M University.
Robin Mills
Family-School Partnership Coach, TAPP Online
BiographyRobin Mills
Robin Mills is a family-school partnership coach with the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) Online project. Her work focuses on bringing parents, teachers and school specialists together to develop constructive relationships and support positive outcomes for children with behavioral needs. Mills has 13 years of experience in public school administration and special education services. She earned a bachelor's degree in theatre performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, a master's degree in communication from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a master's degree in educational leadership from Doane University.
TransformED
Sommer Fousek
Project Manager, TransformED
Project Manager, CEI
Biography
Sommer Fousek
Sommer Fousek is a project manager for the TransformED and Coaching in Early Intervention projects. She serves as the project manager for the Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research (NAECR). NAECR provides resources and supports to early childhood researchers across the University of Nebraska system and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. She earned her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Tamara Hechtner-Galvin
Project Coordinator, TransformED: Connections for Kids
Project Coordinator, Getting Ready
21 CPEH
402-472-5529
thechtner2@unl.edu
Tamara Hechtner-Galvin
Tamara Hechtner-Galvin is the project coordinator for Getting Ready. This study focuses on strengthening the relationships children have with adults, as well as strengthening the partnerships between parents and their childcare providers. Collaboratively, parents and teachers identify and build on a child’s strengths, establish developmental goals, and create home-center plans to support developmentally appropriate child goals. Hechtner-Galvin's research interests include family-school partnerships, early childhood education, assessment and early intervention. She earned her doctoral degree in human development and family studies with an emphasis in early childhood education from Iowa State University.
WORDS
Sara Wing
Reading Teacher Coach Specialist-Lead, WORDS Project
BiographySara Wing
Sara Wing is the lead reading teacher coach for the Nebraska WORDS Project. She works closely with teachers doing classroom observations and personalized coaching sessions. Wing earned her teaching degree from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. She earned master's degrees in literacy education with a reading specialist dndorsement, and in curriculum and instruction. She also holds a doctorate in teacher leadership. Wing has also completed introductory Wilson training, LETRS training and serves on the board of the Nebraska State Literacy Association. She is passionate about reading and the need to bring quality professional development to the rural areas in Nebraska.
Business / Administration
Tina Horan
Assistant Director for Research Operations
162C WHIT
tina.horan@unl.edu
Tina Horan
Tina Horan leads the research business/organizational operations of CYFS. She provides leadership and oversight for the center's fiscal operation, including budget monitoring, analysis and forecasting, and helps develop and implement business plans, policies and procedures. Tina is from Nebraska City and earned her bachelor's degree in finance/business administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Julie Erickson
Administrative Coordinator
160 WHIT
julie.erickson@unl.edu
Julie Erickson
Julie Erickson provides administrative support to the director and oversees office management. She works collaboratively with grant support personnel to achieve a high-level of efficiency and productivity in the pre-award process. A native Nebraskan, Julie earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Research and Grant Support
Julie Gillmor
Proposal Development Coordinator
162E WHIT
julie.gillmor@unl.edu
Julie Gillmor
Julie Gillmor works with faculty, staff and graduate students to help prepare grant proposals submitted to external sponsors. She identifies funding opportunities, ensures comprehensive grant development support, organizes and coordinates proposal development and submission, and reviews and refines grant applications. Originally from Old Fort, Ohio, Julie earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of Wooster in Ohio. She also has master’s degrees in health administration and public administration from Ohio State University.
Catherine Jensen
Grant Specialist
162F WHIT
cjensen@unl.edu
Catherine Jensen
Catherine Jensen (pronouns: they/them) analyzes grant budgets and expenditures, assists in the submission of grant proposals and reconciles monthly budgets. They also assist in the development of proposal budgets, grant extensions and budget modification.
Matilda Kond
Grant Specialist
162F WHIT
mkond2@unl.edu
Matilda Kond
Matilda Kond conducts data-driven analysis of grant budgets and expenditures; generates budget reports and reconciles monthly budgets with integrated finance systems. Her role also includes providing data support for reporting and data visualization. Originally from Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, Matilda attended Nebraska's Concordia University on a soccer scholarship, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration. She also holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Union College in Lincoln.
Braxton Lindhorst
Grant Specialist
162G WHIT
braxton.lindhorst@unl.edu
Braxton Lindhorst
Braxton Lindhorst analyzes grant budgets and expenditures, initiates grant budget reports and reconciles monthly budgets. He also assists in the development of proposal budgets, grant extensions and budget modification.
Amanda Prokasky
Senior Research Specialist
BiographyAmanda Prokasky
Amanda Prokasky provides analytical, methodological and data management support for a variety of projects in the MAP Academy. She has expertise in quantitative methods, project management and program evaluation. Her research interests include family economics and poverty, early childhood and family policy, childcare quality, access and affordability, and child sleep and temperament.
Rebecca Voigtlander
Grant Specialist (Post-Award)
160E WHIT
rvoigtlander2@unl.edu
Rebecca Voigtlander
Rebecca Voigtlander analyzes grant budgets and expenditures, initiates grant budget reports and reconciles monthly budgets. She maintains updated hours for each staff member and creates categorized reports for hours logged per project.
Seth Teager
Communications & Media Manager
160D WHIT
402-499-7974
steager2@unl.edu
Seth Teager
Seth creates purpose-driven visual communications that elevate, enhance and clearly define the brand and mission of CYFS. With an emphasis on user interface and user experience, he designs and develops websites for the center and center-based projects. He also designs print materials and provides videography for promotional and educational purposes.
Istiaque Ali
Lead Database Developer & Analyst
BiographyIstiaque Ali
Istiaque Ali develops, manages and maintains research databases. He coordinates and analyzes CYFS project data, and programs database-driven websites for the center’s projects. His role also includes the development of electronic mailing lists and dynamic programs to chart and summarize data.
James Fleege
Video & Multimedia Specialist
162J WHIT
fleege@unl.edu
James Fleege
James Fleege is a visual storyteller who uses video and other forms of multimedia to support the mission of CYFS.
Chuck Green
Communications Associate
162J WHIT
cgreen11@unl.edu
Chuck Green
Chuck Green collaborates with research faculty to gather information about grant-funded projects, then shares that information through articles, annual reports, promotional material and press releases across print and digital platforms. He also photographs research activities and events, assists with email marketing and social media, creates and updates website content, and manages the contact database. Originally from Lincoln, Chuck earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Dana Ludvik
Communications & Media Specialist
162H WHIT
dludvik2@unl.edu
Dana Ludvik
Dana Ludvik works closely with CYFS staff and affiliated faculty to develop and implement strategic communications that share the center’s research and help extend its impact. She engages internal and external audiences in the center’s vision and activities through social media, articles, annual reports and promotional materials. Dana is from Lincoln and earned an interdisciplinary master’s degree in marketing, communications and advertising, and a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Kyleigh Skaggs
Visual Communications & Website Designer
162H WHIT
kskaggs3@unl.edu
Kyleigh Skaggs
Kyleigh designs and executes visual concepts for CYFS and affiliated faculty. She approaches each design with a clear set of goals for how best to elevate the brand and effectively reach its intended audience. Kyleigh earned her master's degree in integrated media communication from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and a bachelor's in visual communication and design from the University of Nebraska Kearney.
Students
| Name | College | Department | Specialization | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odera Achingale | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Libby Brower | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Alexis Chavez | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Quantitative, Qualitative & Psychometric Methods | UNL |
| Genevieve Dashiell | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Counseling Psychology | UNL |
| Farya Haider | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Roshawn Hollie | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Annica Jonson | CEHS | Educational Psychology | Counseling Psychology | UNL |
| Janella Kang | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Global Family Health & Well-being | UNL |
| Jiabin Lyu | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Child Development/Early Childhood Education | UNL |
| Michael Nti Ababio | Architecture | Community & Regional Planning | Public Health | UNL |
| Camryn Steckelberg | CEHS | Educational Psychology | School Psychology | UNL |
| Libby Valerio-Boster | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Global Family Health & Well-being | UNL |
| Weiman Xu | CEHS | Child, Youth & Family Studies | Global Family Health & Well-being | UNL |