Graduate Placement News: Where are they now?

Recent recipients of MA and PhD degrees from Childhood Studies give us an update on what they are doing now.

Omari Baye (MA, Childhood Studies, 2011) works in Philadelphia as family therapist with children and families deemed at risk for placement/incarceration or children returning home from such placements.

Clinton Connor (MA Childhood Studies, 2012) serves as the Director of Youth Services for the Drueding Center. Clinton leads a staff in the development and implementation of Head Start, Early Childhood Education and Out of School time (afterschool) programming.

Qiana Cooper (MA, Childhood Studies, 2010) is currently Supervising Family Service Specialist II for the State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

Anandini Dar (PhD, Childhood Studies, 2014), works as a research consultant for the Girls’ Education Program of CARE India, an NGO which focus on children’s rights to education and empowerment.

Sarita Espinosa (MA, Childhood Studies, 2013; J.D., 2013) clerks for the Honorable Charles Dortch who is the Presiding Judge of the Family Division of the Camden County Superior Court of New Jersey.

Erin Hoesley (MA Childhood Studies, 2012) is an ABA Therapist and Preschool teacher in Fredericksburg VA.

Denise Holmes (MA, Childhood Studies, 2010) continues her work in the Camden City School system as a teacher making use of her training and research on childhood emotions to turn classroom disruptions into teachable moments. She strives to influence as many students as possible with the proper guidance and instruction on academic and non-academic issues.

Diane Marano (PhD, Childhood Studies, 2014), continues her committee work with agencies that plan for the delivery of services to at-risk youth through both public and private funding streams.  She is working on a book manuscript based on her dissertation, “Gun Acquisition and Use by Juveniles: A Phenomenological Approach,” and preparing a course for the spring semester of 2015 in the Rutgers–Camden Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice. 

Marianne Modica (PhD, Childhood Studies, 2014) is Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, PA. Her book, Race Among Friends: Exploring Race in a “Friendly” Suburban School (based on her dissertation), is under contract with Rutgers University Press with a tentative publication date of 2016. 

Rosemarie Peña (MA, Childhood Studies, 2014) continues her work on children, adoption, migration and race as a PhD student in the Department of Childhood Studies.

Lara Saguisag (PhD, Childhood Studies, 2013) begins her position as Assistant Professor in English (tenure track) at the City University of New York-College of Staten Island in the Fall of 2013. Her dissertation, “Drawing the Lines: Constructing Childhood in Progressive Era Kid Strips, 1896-1911,” examines representations of childhood in late nineteenth and early twentieth century comic strips, work which was supported and recognized by several fellowships and awards, including the Rutgers University Presidential Fellowship, a Library of Congress Swann Foundation Fellowship and the Alumni Association Graduate School Academic Achievement Award.

Deborah Shine Valentine (PhD Childhood Studies, 2013) is Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education (tenure track) at St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA. Her historical research examines how ideas about play and childhood influence the production and design of play environments, pedagogical practices and social policies and how these environments, practices and policies then impact young children, early childhood educators and African Americans. 

Marla Wander (PhD, Childhood Studies, 2013) continues her position as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Camden County College as well as her research involving adolescent decision making and optional HPV vaccination.