Monica Faulkner, Ph.D. LMSW, Director
“When I sit back and look at everything we have done in five years, I feel immensely proud, not of the volume of the work, but the impact that we have made.” Dr. Monica Faulkner is a Research Associate Professor and the Director of the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing at the School of… Read more »
Beth Gerlach, Ph.D., LCSW, Associate Director
“I love that TXICFW embraces a team approach to research and program development. I think one reason our institute is successful is because we collaborate, communicate, and support one another.” Dr. Gerlach is the Associate Director of the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing. She combines her research training with her clinical social work… Read more »
Tina Adkins, Ph.D., Research Associate
Dr. Adkins has worked her entire career in the field of child welfare. She began as a Child Protective Services worker and went on to become a counselor and then specialize in attachment and child development. She went to London to learn about cutting edge child welfare interventions and obtained two of her degrees from… Read more »
Jolynne Batchelor, Ph.D., LCSW, Research Associate
“I’m very happy to be working among amazing scholars who share my social work values and where everyone is dedicated to advancing compassionate practice and research with the most vulnerable children and families in Texas.” Jolynne has over 20 years of experience in social work as a practitioner, clinical supervisor, program administrator, researcher, and teacher…. Read more »
Laura Marra, MSSW, Senior Research Coordinator
“It’s exciting to come to work every day knowing that I am part of a dynamic team that values the work we do.” Laura oversees research design, implementation, and program evaluation for projects focused on child wellbeing, family resilience, adoption, permanency, and child care. Her professional research interests include: 1) building evidence-based models of support… Read more »
Shannon Mann-Butler, MSSW, MAC, Senior Operations & Development Coordinator
“I have a passion for helping people and nonprofit organizations to maximize strengths and opportunities, and to thrive in an environment of change.” Shannon is the Senior Development & Operations Coordinator at the institute where she is responsible for overseeing programs and training hosted by the institute. Shannon’s role includes program development, outreach and collaboration… Read more »
Kate McKerlie, MSSW, MPH, Communications Coordinator
“We are a collaborative team here at TXICFW, where we utilize each other’s strengths to strive towards a shared vision of promoting the wellbeing of children and their families.” Kate maintains TXICFW’s communications such as the website, e-newsletter, promotional print materials and social media platforms. She assists the TXICFW staff disseminate their research to the public… Read more »
Shannon Harris, Operations Coordinator
“The best part of my job is helping my colleagues maximize their time and resources. There is so much talent here, and I want to keep things running smoothly, so that we can stay fully engaged in research, training and programs.” Shannon Harris is our Operations Coordinator at TXICFW. She recently returned from teaching abroad… Read more »
Tymothy Belseth, MA, Research Coordinator
“I’m on a quest to find the formula for success for children and youth in foster care, and I know that TXICFW will make enormous contributions in improving the foster care experience.” Tymothy Belseth is a research coordinator with the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing. Tymothy is passionate about foster care and the… Read more »
Barbara Ball, Ph.D., LPC-AT, Senior Research Associate
“I am passionate about developing and coordinating research and programs at the community level so that children and youth have the opportunity to develop positive relationships, succeed academically and live healthy lives.” Dr. Ball is a Senior Research Associate at the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing at the School of Social Work and… Read more »
Swetha Nulu, MPH, Research Coordinator
“It’s exciting to work with staff who are passionate about applying innovative strategies to improve community health.” Swetha conducts program evaluation activities, which include study design, data analysis, report writing, and coordination related to child well-being. She has a passion for issues related to health care policy and community health access. Previous research experience includes… Read more »
Ana Vidina Hernández, MSSW, MA, Program Coordinator
“I appreciate the care, thoughtfulness, and compassion that everyone at TXICFW brings to their work. I am excited to be a part of an institute that values research-practice connections and works toward tangible positive change.” Ana is the Program Coordinator of Girasol at TXICFW. Ana is a native Austinite with a Bachelor of Arts in… Read more »
Allie Long, Digital Communications Coordinator
“I am inspired by our team’s commitment to exploring the intersection of creative communication and cutting edge social welfare research as a means to advocate for practitioners directly impacting the lives of children and families.” Allie is responsible for disseminating written content for the Institute’s communications department through blog posts, social media, feature articles, website… Read more »
Samantha Zuniga Thompson, LCSW-S, Program Specialist
“I’m excited to work in a place that values and promotes the integration of research into social work practice. TXICFW understands the importance of supporting clinicians in providing effective and informed services to children and families. I’m excited to be a part of this team and continue to support programs and research that benefits children… Read more »
Kaitlyn Doerge, MSSW, Research Coordinator
“I love that the Institute focuses on a range of issues that impact health and social outcomes for children and families – from early adversity and child abuse prevention to outcomes for post-adopt families and young adults aging out of foster care, this team is promoting improvements and best practices across a broad spectrum.” Kaitlyn… Read more »
Anna Wasim, LMSW, Research Coordinator
“I really enjoy how our team approaches complex topics with a spirit of creative problem-solving and critical thinking. It’s a privilege to join a team that is committed to quality, applied research that serves our communities.” Anna is a Research Coordinator with the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing. Her scholarship focuses on emerging… Read more »