The Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies has a vibrant intellectual environment that is enriched by scholarly exchange. We regularly host scholars from both inside and outside the university to present workshops, symposia, and other events that contribute to intellectual exchange.
Dr. Lifen Zhu is currently visiting (from April 2016 to March 2017) and is working with Dr. Soo-Young Hong on childhood mental health issues. Dr. Sukran Ucus of Ankara, Turkey, has been working with Dr. Helen Raikes starting in March 2016. Dr. Zheng Wang is currently visiting and working with Dr. Hong.
Former Visiting Scholars
Dr. Ann Zheng, Ph.D.
Dr. Zheng visited from August 2015 to July 2016. Her main research area is early childhood education research, in which she worked with Dr. Sooyoung Hong.
Dr. Kumara Ward, Ph.D., University of Western Sydney, Australia
Dr. Ward visited from September 2015 to February 2016. His main research area is early childhood education.
Dr. Baowei Tian, Ph.D., Beijing Jiaotong University, China
Dr. Tian visited from October 2014 through September 2015. His main research area is youth and family studies.
Dr. Liang-jing Guo, Ph.D., Najing Normal University, China
Dr. Guo visited from November 2013 to November 2014. Her main research area is early childhood education and assessment.
Wenrong Liu, Ph.D., Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China
Dr. Liu visited from February - July 2014. Her main research interest is family relations and elderly support.
Zhang Xiaomeng, Ph.D., Peking University, China
Xiaomeng visited from September 2013 - April 2014. She worked with Dr. Yan Xia to devise a program of scholarly activities relating to youth development.
Su Gaoyan, Ph.D., Taizhou University, China
Dr. Gaoyan was a visiting scholar from February - August , 2013. During her time at UNL, Dr. Gaoyan conducted research in early childhood and kindergarten education
Haiping Wang, Litt.D, The Open University of China
Haiping Wang visited UNL from February - July 2013. Her main area of interest is distance education.
Dan Han, Shenzhen Polytechnic, China
Dr. Han visited UNL from January to July 2013. Her interests include mental health care and marriage and family therapy.
Past Speakers
Tania Gaspar, Ph.D., Universidade de Lusiada- Lisboa, Portugal
On April 10, 2015, Dr. Gaspar presented “Quality of life, self-regulation and competence in young children.”
Stephan M. Wilson, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, USA
On September 18-19, 2013, Dr. Wilson presented and consulted on “what has been learned from the knowledge and skills of others to work effectively in today’s global environment.”
Mary Willis, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
On November 9, 2012, Dr. Willis presented a seminar titled: Dental Discourse: Anthropological Perspectives on Culture Transition
Amy Booth, Ph.D. Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
On November 2, 2012, Dr. Booth presented a seminar titled: Conceptual Supports for Early Word Learning.
Karen E. Diamond, Ph.D., Purdue University, Indiana, USA
On November 1, 2012, Dr. Diamond visited departmental faculty apresented a talk titled: Studying Coaching-based Professional Development Interventions in Early Childhood.
Professor Yong He and Professor Yue-Hong Li, Kunming, China
On October 12, 2012, Professors Yong He and Yue-Hong Li presented on the culture and diversity of China.
Simon Faulkner, Holyoake, Newcastle, Australia
On October 8, 2012, Mr. Faulker presented on the development of Drumbeat, an innovative mental health treatment using percussion in a group therapy setting.
Hope Gerde, Ph.D., Michigan State University, Michigan, USA
On October 5, 2012, Dr. Gerde gave a talk titled Early Childhood Educator Professional Development: Using distance learning service delivery to enhance teacher practice and children’s outcomes