It is my great pleasure to introduce myself to the K-State MFT community. For the past 13 years I have been a member of the MFT faculty at Oklahoma State University, serving as their program director for the past nine years. Although it was difficult to leave because I treasured the relationships I developed with faculty, staff and students at OSU, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of such a stellar program at K-State and look forward to all of the opportunities ahead.
Prior to OSU, I received my B.S. in family science, M.S. in MFT from Brigham Young University and Ph.D. in MFT from Texas Tech University. My wife, Becky, and I have six children: Josh, 18, who is starting his freshman year at Utah State University this fall; Andrew,16; Aubrey, 13; Emily, 10; Maci, 7; and Alyssa, 5.
At a broad level my research and clinical interests are focused on the parent-child relationship. I am interested in parent-child relationship predictors of child physical and socio-emotional health and in identifying the most effective/efficacious approaches to early parent-child treatment for vulnerable populations. Much of my recent work has focused on the influence of general parenting on child healthy weight balance and on the efficacy of a transdisciplinary child obesity prevention program.
I cannot think of a better job than to be a faculty member in an MFT program. The field of MFT is uniquely positioned to find solutions to and address many of the most challenging issues for individuals and families. The opportunity to learn about and expand scientific knowledge in order to improve the lives of vulnerable families is energizing and rewarding for me. Similarly, it is a privilege to play a role in and witness the growth and development of students as they prepare to improve the lives of families through direct service and through research and discovery.
I am excited for the new opportunities I will have at K-State to participate in the development of future leaders in the MFT field. I have long been impressed with K-State’s program and I was all the more impressed during the interview process. I was particularly impressed by the quality of the faculty and students and was surprised by how at home I felt while on campus. Thank you in advance for your patience and assistance as I learn the ropes and settle into my new role. I could not be more excited to join the K-State family!
Welcome, Glade! As proud alum of the K-State MFT program, I’ve kept careful watch on the comings and goings of the program faculty. It appears the changing of the guard, from Sandra to you, has gone very well. Sandra, like her predecessors, lead the program in an exceptional way. Maybe our paths will cross over these next months. I would like to meet you. Until then, I’ll hope you and your family’s transition to the wonderful town of Manhattan will go without a hitch! Steve Rathbun, Ph.D., Tenured Faculty, Friends University, Wichita, Kansas