Academic Year 2026-27 SoHE Spotlights
We are continually inspired by the accomplishments, creativity, and impact of our graduate students in the School of Human Ecology. This webpage is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate those achievements — from groundbreaking research and conference presentations to fellowships, awards, entrepreneurial ventures, and personal milestones. By showcasing the diverse experiences of our students, we aim to both honor their hard work and inspire future graduate students to join our spectacular community.
Students who are featured answer a questionnaire that allows us to present their stories in a Q&A format.
See our student stories
Shug Munic Interviewed by PBS Twin Cities
Shug Munic, an MFA student in the Design Studies (DS) graduate program, has recently been interviewed by PBS Twin Cities! The interview recaps their residency at the Center for People and Craft in Minneapolis and former project, Quilting Amidst Collapse: Devotion is Never a Waste, Funded by Springboard for the Arts.
Jennifer Navarro Chavez Co-Authors Paper
Jennifer Navarro Chavez, a PhD student in the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) graduate program, has recently co-authored a paper with my advisor Dr. Andrea Buhler-Wassmann and collaborators from NYU, Loyola Chicago, & UCSC on Venezuelan mothers and their young children’s oral storytelling patterns to process immigration journeys to the U.S.
Alex Punguil Bravo Published in American Journal of Qualitative Research
Alex Punguil Bravo, a PhD student in the Civil Society and Community Research (CSCR) graduate program, has recently had his paper, “Resilience Through Language, Culture, and Community: A Qualitative Study of Multilingual and Multicultural Families,” accepted for publication in the American Journal of Qualitative Research.
Yeqing Named 2026 NCFR Ruth Jewson Award Recipient
Yeqing Li, a PhD student in the Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) graduate program, has recently been named the 2026 recipient of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Ruth Jewson Award.
Checkout previous graduate student spotlights
Interested in being featured?
Whether you are a student sharing your own journey, or a faculty member nominating a student you mentor, we invite you to shine a light on the exciting work being done within our graduate programs.