Graduate Students

Casey Cunningham

Graduate Student

Pennsylvania State University - University Park

Fall2021

Casey Cunningham is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Psychological Sciences and Human Development and Family Sciences. Prior to coming to Penn State, Casey worked at the UConn Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy in a lab researching sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth and adult health disparities. Her research interests include public policy, low-income families, and SGM parents.

T Berry

Graduate Student 

Pennsylvania State University - University Park

Fall2021

T is a first year PhD student in the Human Development and Family Studies Program at Pennsylvania State University. Prior to attending Penn State, T graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Child and Family Studies, and he has extensive experience working with children and their families in a variety of settings including a therapeutic childcare center, a summer heritage camp for adoptive families, and serving on a panel discussing the experiences of LGBTQ neurodivergent individuals. Their research interests include the experiences of LGBTQ indivdiuals and LGBTQ headed families, adoption, and the intersections of race, disability, and mental health on LGBTQ individuals. In his time outside of the classroom or the lab, T enjoys reading, writing poetry and prose, and watching Marvel movies.

Shixin Fang

Graduate Student

Penn State University - University Park

Fall 2022 - Present

Shixin Fang (She/Her) is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. Shixin graduated from Beijing Normal University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Prior to Penn State, She had engaged in research on LGBTQ+ parenthood, attitudes toward sexual minority people, and the impact of comprehensive sexuality education. Currently, her research interest is relationship and well-being among sexual and gender diverse couples during their transition to parenthood. Outside of graduate school, Shixin enjoys cooking, swimming, and watching queer films.