Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program Archives

Fellowship paves path

November 14, 2025 jdonahue CHHS, Family and Consumer Sciences, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Leilani Cancel-Lopez didn’t set out to become a therapist, but her path led her to a nationally recognized fellowship aimed at expanding representation in mental health care. The second-year graduate student in Northern Illinois University’s Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy (SMFT)

Fostering Hope

January 24, 2025 jdonahue AHDFS, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS, Family and Consumer Sciences, human development and family sciences, Marriage and Family Therapy, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Hoa Vo, ’23, is an agent of change. Growing up in DeKalb, her journey through foster care fueled a deep passion for advocating for others. While at NIU, she witnessed firsthand the lack of support provided to former foster youth as they

Fostering hope

November 19, 2024 a134221 Family and Consumer Sciences, News, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Hoa Vo is an agent of change. Growing up in DeKalb, her journey through foster care fueled a deep passion for advocating for others. While at NIU, she witnessed firsthand the lack of support provided to former foster youth as they transitioned

College of Health and Human Sciences names winners of 2024 Awards for Excellence

August 29, 2024 jdonahue AHCD, Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, Couple and Family Therapy Clinic, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Studies, IHP, Nursing, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, School of Health Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions, School of Nursing, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Dean Kelly Fiala announced the winners of the 2024 Dean’s Awards for Excellence during the all-college meeting held Aug. 19 in Wirtz Hall auditorium. Bryan Dallas, DeAnna Harris-McKoy, Yujun Liu, Jessica Madrigal and Flora Surjadi were each recognized for their significant contributions

Huskie Spotlight – Paige Butauski

March 28, 2023 jdonahue AHDFS, Applied Human Development and Family Sciences, CHHS, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS, Family and Consumer Sciences, human development and family sciences, Marriage and Family Therapy, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Paige Butauski is a human development and family sciences master’s student from Hilliard, OH Hometown: Hilliard, OH Year: Expected graduation: 2023 Major: Human development and family sciences (M.S.) What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a

Huskie Spotlight – Ruchika Jain

November 29, 2022 jdonahue AHDFS, Applied Human Development and Family Sciences, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS, Family and Consumer Sciences, human development and family sciences, Marriage and Family Therapy, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Ruchika Jain is a graduate student in the Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy (SMFT) program at NIU. Hometown: India Year: Expected graduation: 2024 Major: Marriage and family therapy Master’s program What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing

Reaccreditation for the Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy program at NIU

November 22, 2022 jdonahue AHDFS, Applied Human Development and Family Sciences, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, Couple and Family Therapy Clinic, human development and family sciences, Marriage and Family Therapy, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

The Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy (SMFT) program recently received reaccreditation for the next seven years from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). For DeAnna Harris-McKoy, it’s a completion of a goal she set when she

Huskie Spotlight – Jennie Espinoza

August 24, 2022 jdonahue AHDFS, Applied Human Development and Family Sciences, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS, Family and Consumer Sciences, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Jennie Espinoza is a human development and family sciences graduate student from Mendota, IL Hometown: Mendota, IL Year: Expected graduation: 2022 Major: Human development and family sciences Transfer from: Illinois Valley Community College What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you

Huskie Spotlight: DeAnna Harris-McKoy

August 24, 2022 jdonahue Applied Human Development and Family Sciences, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS, Family and Consumer Sciences, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

What year did you start working at NIU? 2020 What is your current role? I am an associate professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences and director of the Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy (SMFT) program. Where is your

Huskie Spotlight – Nicole Smalley

April 20, 2022 jdonahue AHDFS, Applied Human Development and Family Sciences, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Hometown: Pingree Grove, IL Year: Anticipated graduation year: 2022 Major: Human development and family sciences Transfer from: Elgin Community College What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU? I have a graduate assistant tuition

DeAnna Harris-McKoy reflects on the power of support

March 24, 2022 jdonahue FACS, Family and Consumer Sciences, human development and family sciences, SMFT, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program

DeAnna Harris-McKoy is a teacher, researcher, supervisor and therapist, all rolled into one. The associate professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences and director of NIU’s Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy (SMFT) program joined the Huskie family during the 2020-2021 academic year. In addition

CHHS takes on Corn Fest

September 20, 2021 jdonahue AHCD, Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, Audiology, Autism Caregiver Group, CHHS, clinics, College of Health and Human Sciences, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Events, FACS, faculty, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Studies, IHP, physical therapy, Physical Therapy Clinic, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, School of Health Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions, Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Speech-Language Pathology, Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Students

When thousands of people flocked to DeKalb for Corn Fest last month, a group of Huskies joined them. More than a dozen College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) students, faculty and staff were part of the CHHS’ inaugural appearance at the