Academic Program Directory
Child Life Academic Programs
These programs are self-identified as having degrees/curriculums in child life. The Child Life Council does not certify educational facilities therefore the Council claims no responsibility for the academic quality of any program.
For a listing of programs specializing in child life assistant education, click here.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Jamie Sailors-Andersen, Ph.D.
Director of Undergraduate Internships
Dept. of Human Development & Family Studies
203 Spidle Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849
phone: 334-844-3217
anderja@auburn.edu
http://www.humsci.auburn.edu/hdfs/ugrad-internships.php
Degree: Undergraduate (Human Development & Family Studies with Child Life Concentration)
AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
Kathryn Ecklund, PhD
Associate Professor, Psychology
901 East Alosta Avenue
Azusa, CA 91702
phone: 626-815-6000 ext. 2740
kecklund@apu.edu
www.apu.edu
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Child Life Specialist Concentration
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. Rebecca A. Adams
Program Director
Department of Family & Consumer Sciences
Ball State University
2000 W. University Ave.
Muncie, Indiana 47306
phone: 765-285-5924
badams@bsu.edu
http://www.bsu.edu/fcs/
BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Troy Pinkney-Ragsdale
Director of Child Life Program
Bank Street College of Education
610 W. 112th Street
New York, NY 10025
phone: 212-875-4473
tpinkney@bankstreet.edu
Date of Origin: 1988
Degree: Graduate
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. David MacPhee
Professor
Dept. of Human Development & Family Studies
Colorado State University
1570Fort Collins, CO 80523
phone: 970-491-5503
macphee@cahs.colostate.edu
http://www.hdfs.cahs.colostate.edu/
Date of Origin: 1975
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate (Human Development & Family Studies with Child Life Concentration)
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY ANN ARBOR COLLEGE
Professor Karna J. Doyle
Professor, Family Life/Concentration Coordinator
Concordia University Ann Arbor College
4090 Geddes Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
phone: 734-995-4602
doylek@cuaa.edu
www.cuaa.edu
Degree: Undergraduate
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
Dr. Sandra Triebenbacher
Associate Professor
Dept. of Child Development & Family Relations
Greenville, NC 27858-4354
phone: 252-328-1336
triebenbachers@ecu.edu
www.ecu.edu
Date of Origin: 1990
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate (Child Development & Family Relations with a Specialization in Child Life)
EDGEWOOD COLLEGE
Lois Pearson, MEd, CCLS
Dept. of Education, Child Life Major
1000 Edgewood College Drive
Madison, WI 53711-1997
phone: 262-255-6563
lpearson@edgewood.edu and loisjpearson@gmail.com
or
Edgewood College - Office of Admissions
phone: 608-663-2294
admissions@edgewood.edu
www.edgewood.edu
Date of Origin: 1970
Degree: Undergraduate
ERIKSON INSTITUTE
Sharon Syc, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Co-Director Infant Specialist Certificate Program
451 N. LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60654
phone: 312-893-7187
ssyc@erikson.edu
www.erikson.edu
Degree: Graduate (Child Development with Child Life Concentration)
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Jerri Kropp
Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences
P.O. Box 8021
Statesboro, GA 30460
phone: 912-681-5537 or 912-681-5809
jkropp@georgiasouthern.edu
www.georgiasouthern.edu
Date of Origin: 1993
Degree: Undergraduate (Child & Family Development)
HARDING UNIVERSITY
Crystal Whittington, PhD, CCLS, CFLE, CIMI, CFCS
Assistant Professor
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Box 12233, 609 S Remington
Searcy, AR 72149
Phone: 501-279-4676
cwhittington@harding.edu
www.harding.edu
Degree: Undergraduate (Child Life)
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY
Keri Edwards, MS, CCLS, CPST, CIMI
Child Life Program Director
Family Consumer Science Department
Normal, IL 61790-5060
Phone: 309-438-2648
kledwar@ilstu.edu
http://fcs.illinoisstate.edu/
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate
LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY
Michelle Minyard-Widmann, M.S., CCLS
Program Director and Assistant Professor
Department of Counseling and Family Sciences
11065 Campus Street,
Griggs Hall, Room 115
Loma Linda, CA 92350
Phone: (909) 558-4547 x 47072
maminyard@llu.edu
http://childlifespecialist.llu.edu
Degree: MS
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY
Anita H. Pumphrey, CCLS,
Instructor
Department of Human Ecology
PO Box 3167
Ruston, LA 71272
phone: 318-257-4517
apumphrey@latech.edu
http://www.latech.edu/ans/human-ecology/
Date of Origin: 1990
Degree: Undergraduate
McMASTER UNIVERSITY
Paola Di Lalla, CCLS, Co-Director
Child Life Studies Diploma Program
Child Life Studies Distance Learning
Faculty of Health Sciences #HSC2E7
1200 Main Street, West
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada L8N 3Z5
phone: 905-525-9140 x 22795
dilalla@mcmaster.ca
www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/childlife
Date of Origin: 1989
Degree: Postprofessional Diploma Programme
MILLS COLLEGE
Dr. Linda Perez
Associate Professor/Clinical Licensed Psychologist
School of Education
Mills College
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94163-1301
phone: 510-430-2328; 510-430-3190
lmperez@mills.edu
www.Mills.edu
Date of Origin: 1978
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. Jan Cooper-Taylor
Professor, School of Human Sciences
P.O. Box 9745
Mississippi State, MS 39762
phone: 662-325-7690
jctaylor@humansci.msstate.edu
www.msstate.edu
Degree: Undergraduate (Human Development & Family Studies with Child Life Concentration)
MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
Shannon Bellum
Department of Family and Child Studies
1 Normal Ave.
Montclair, NJ 07043
phone: 973-655-4371
bellums@mail.montclair.edu
www.montclair.edu
Date of Origin: 1998
Degree: Undergraduate (Family and Child Studies with Child Life Concentration)
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
Kathy Bernet, MS
Instructor, Early Childhood & Family Development
901 S. National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65806
phone: 417-836-5341
kab556f@msu.edu or KathyBernet@missouristate.edu
http://www.missouristate.edu/
Date of Origin: Child Life, 1987; Early Childhood and Family Specialization, 1963
Degree: Undergraduate, Specialization in Child Life
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Tim Passmore, Ed.D., CTRS
Associate Professor
Applied Health & Education Psychology
186 Colvin
Stillwater, OK 74078
phone: 405-744-1811
tim.passmore@okstate.edu
Degree: Undergraduate (Leisure Studies-Therapeutic Recreation with concentration in Child Life Therapy)
SAMFORD UNIVERSITY
Dr. Clara Gerhardt
Chair and Professor: Dept. Family Studies
Academic Advisor for Family Studies: Dr Kristie Chandler
School of Education & Professional Studies
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229-2239
phone: 205-726-2843 / 2087
kbchandl@samford.edu
http://dlserver.samford.edu/fams/index.htm
Degree: Undergraduate
SUNY AT STONYBROOK
Dr. Joan Kuchner
Director, Child & Family Studies
Psychology Department
Psy B 144
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500
phone: 631-632-7695
jkuchner@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE
Dr. Kevin McAllister
Graduate Coordinator
Sports Management and Recreation Department
Child Life/Therapuetic Recreation
phone: 413-748-3476 (direct), 413-748-3693
kmcallis@dpfldcol.edu
www.spfldcol.edu
Date of Origin: Child Life, 1985; Therapeutic Recreation, 1940
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate
TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Cara Sisk, CCLS
Child Life Program Director and Instructor
Tennessee Technological University
College of Human Ecology
PO Box 5035
Cookeville, TN 38505
phone: 931-372-6017
csisk@tntech.edu
www.tntech.edu/hec/home
Degree: Undergraduate
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN MARCOS
Dr. Elizabeth Morgan Russell
Assistant Professor
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Texas State University-San Marcos
Family and Consumer Sciences
601 University Drive
San Marcos, Texas 78666-4616
phone: 512-245-9196
fax: 512-245-3829
er15@txstate.edu
http://www.fcs.txstate.edu/degrees-programs/fcd/fcdgrad.html
Degree: Graduate (Family and Child Studies with Graduate Child Life Track)
TOWSON UNIVERSITY
Lisa A. Martinelli Beasley, ATR-BC, CCLS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Family Studies and Community Development
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252
phone: 410-704-3766
lmartinelli@towson.edu
undergraduate: http://www.towson.edu/fmst/
graduate: http://grad.towson.edu/program/master/fmst-ms/
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate (Child Life, Administration and Family Collaboration)
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
Rose Resler, MA, CCLS
Director of Child Life Specialist Program
School of Family & Consumer Sciences
Schrank Hall South 215
Akron, OH 44325-6103
phone: 330-972-8040
rresler@uakron.edu
http://www3.uakron.edu/fcs/childlife.html
Date of Origin: 1979
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
Sherwood Burns-Nader, MS, CCLS
Child Life Advisor/Instructor
Dept. of Human Devel. & Family Studies
P.O. Box 870160
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
phone: 205-348-0472
sburns@ches.ua.edu
www.ches.ua.edu/departments/hd/undergraduates/
Date of Origin: 1980
Degree: Undergraduate
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Dr. Charlotte Wallinga
Director of Child Life
Child and Family Development Department
Family Science Center II
Athens, GA 30602
phone: 706-542-4899
cwallinga@fcs.uga.edu
www.fcs.uga.edu
Date of Origin: 1980
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate (Child & Family Devel., emphasis in Child Life)
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Debra Shelton Medlyn
Dept. of Human Devel. & Family Services
HCD, Agric., Consumer & Envir. Sci. College
1105 W. Nevada Street
Urbana, IL 61801
d-medlyn@uiuc.edu
www.uiuc.edu
Date of Origin: 1986
Degree: Undergraduate in HDFS
UNIVERSITY OF Iowa
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Integrative Physiology Department
420 Jefferson Building
Iowa City, IA 52242
phone: 319-335-3822
emily-mozena@uiowa.edu
http://www.uiowa.edu/~leisure/
UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE
Leslie Ann Young, CCLS
Child Life Program, Education Department
1950 3rd Street
La Verne, CA 91750
phone: 909-593-3511 x4640 (at university) or 909/558-8212 (at hospital)
lyoung@laverne.edu
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI - Columbia
Nora Hager, MA, CCLS
Child Life Program Coordinator
Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies
314 Gentry Hall
Columbia, MO 65211-7700
phone: 573-884-5997
hagern@missouri.edu
http://hdfs.missouri.edu/
Date of Origin: 1983
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate (Human Development & Family Studies with Child Life Concentration)
University of New Hampshire
Michael Kalinowski, EdD
Associate Professor - Family Studies
Phone: 603-862-1234
mk2@cisunix.unh.edu
Patti Craig, Ph.D, CTRS/L
Assistant Professor - Recreation Management and Policy
Phone: 603-862-0140
pjcraig@cisunix.unh.edu
Trish Cox, MSW, M.S.Ed., CCLS
Adjunct Faculty
Phone: 603-686-9407
tcox@portsmouth.k12.nh.us
University of New Hampshire
College of Health and Human Services
Pettee Hall Room 218
55 College Road,
Durham, New Hampshire 03824
www.unh.edu
Degree: Undergraduate (Child Life Minor offered by the Department of Family Studies and the Therapeutic Recreation option in the Department of Recreation Management and Policy).
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Dr. Amanda Hirsch
Coordinator, Master's Program
Applied Developmental Psychology
Psychology in Education
5930 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
230 South Bouquet Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
phone: 412-624-7230
hirscham@pitt.edu
http://www.education.pitt.edu/adp/
Degree: Graduate (MS in Applied Developmental Psychology with Child Life Concentration)
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Julie Parker, CCLS
College of Education and PsychologyDepartment of Child and Family Studies
118 College Drive, #5035
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5035
phone: 601-266-6108
Julie.Cooley-Parker@usm.edu
http://www.usm.edu/childandfamilystudies
Date of Origin: 1990
Degree: Undergraduate, graduate (Child and Family Studies with Child Life Concentration)
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Jenny Stout, Academic Advisor
Department of Family & Consumer Studies
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
phone: 801-581-4431
jenny.stout@fcs.utah.edu
www.fcs.utah.edu/undergrad/clp/
Date of Origin: 1989
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate
UTICA COLLEGE
Melodee Moltman, MS, Ed, CCLS
Psychology/Child Life Department
1600 Burrstone Road
Utica, NY 13502-4892
phone: 315-792-3098
mmoltman@utica.edu
Date of Origin: 1978
Degree: Undergraduate
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
Vicki S. Harris, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology and Human Development
Department of Psychology and Human Development
Peabody College of Education
Vanderbilt University
512 George Peabody College
230 Appleton Way
Nashville, TN 37203-5721
phone: 615-343-1896
vicki.s.harris@vanderbilt.edu
Date of Origin: 2003
Degree: Graduate (M. Ed., Applied Child Studies with Pediatrics Healthcare Concentration)
WHEELOCK COLLEGE
Claire White
Coordinator of Undergraduate Child Life Program
Virginia Coleman
Coordinator of Graduate Child Life Program
200 The Riverway
Boston, MA 02215
phone: 617-879-2206
undergrad@wheelock.edu
graduate@wheelock.edu
www.wheelock.edu
Date of Origin: 1972
Degree: Undergraduate, Graduate
These programs are self-identified as having degrees/curriculums in child life. The Child Life Council does not certify educational facilities therefore the Council claims no responsibility for the academic quality of any program.
Child Life Assistant Programs
Dakota County Technical College
Dawn Braa, MA
Early Childhood and Youth Development Instructor
Department of Child Development (currently); Early Childhood and Youth Development (Fall 2011)
1300 145th Street, East (County Road 42)
Rosemount, MN 55068-2999
Phone: 651-423-8315
Email: dawn.braa@dctc.edu
http://www.dctc.edu/
Degree: Associate in Applied Science: Child Life Assistant Program with Fieldwork Experience