Interpersonal Relationships

HDFS faculty are interested in the factors that affect the formation, maintenance and deterioration of personal and family relationships throughout life, including friendships, family relationships, romantic liaisons and marriages.

Profile image of Karen Fingerman

Karen Fingerman

  • Professor
  • Research Director, Center on Aging and Population Sciences
  • Director, Texas Aging and Longevity Consortium
  • Sonia Wolf Wilson Regents Administrative Professorship, Holder
  • Human Development & Family Sciences
  • Human Ecology

I am currently accepting graduate students for fall 2025. But I am no longer studying intergenerational relationships. 

My research currently looks at daily experiences in late life.  We are beginning to research caregivers for Lewy Body Dementia. 

Profile image of Marci Gleason

Marci Gleason

  • Associate Professor
  • Associate Chair
  • Human Development & Family Sciences
  • Human Ecology
Profile image of Sae Hwang Han

Sae Hwang Han

  • Assistant Professor
  • Human Development & Family Sciences
  • Human Ecology
Profile image of Deborah Jacobvitz

Deborah Jacobvitz

  • Professor
  • Phyllis L. Richards Endowed Professor in Child Development
  • Human Development & Family Sciences
  • Human Ecology
Profile image of Lisa Neff

Lisa Neff

  • Professor
  • Human Development & Family Sciences
  • Human Ecology
Profile image of Stephen Russell

Stephen Russell

  • Professor
  • Director, School of Human Ecology
  • Human Development & Family Sciences
  • Human Ecology

Amy Johnson McLaughlin Administrative Chair in Human Ecology 
Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor in Child Development
Professor of Population Health

Profile image of Hannah Williamson

Hannah Williamson

  • Associate Professor
  • Human Development & Family Sciences
  • Human Ecology

Accepting applications for Ph.D. students for the 2025/2026 academic year.