University of Minnesota Dept. of Family Social Science

06/04/2026

CEHD Commencement Day was full of "firsts" and "lasts" this year as retiring Associate Professor Virginia Solis Zuiker hooded her last PhD student, Miguel Quiñones, while Assistant Professor Xiaoran Sun hooded her first doctoral student, and Department Head Stacey Horn hooded her first University of Minnesota doctoral student. And the Parent and Family Education program's student body continues to grow and flourish! FSoS celebrated students at a Graduate Celebration in the Club Cambria room inside the Huntington Stadium prior to commencement ceremonies. All photos were taken by Rebecca Slater, By Rebecca Studios.

05/20/2026

Congratulations to our alumna Na Zhang! So of you!

Congratulations to Dr. Na Zhang (PhD ’18, family social science), Assistant Professor at University of Connecticut for receiving the 2026 Rising Alumni Award! https://www.cehd.umn.edu/2026-rising-alumni-award-recipient-na-zhang

University of Minnesota Dept. of Family Social Science UConn

05/15/2026

Seven dissertation defenses - seven newly-minted PhDs! Congratulations to all our stellar students!

05/11/2026

More accolades for FSoS faculty and staff! This time at the CEHD Spring Assembly:

Staff and faculty of the Department of Family Social Science continues to garner accolades for their work supporting students and contributing to the mission at the U of M.

05/08/2026

The FSoS community celebrated Virginia Solis Zuiker at a retirement party Monday. BONUS - one of her advisees, Yiting Li, has seeded a scholarship in her honor! Here's more:

The Family Social Science community celebrated Virginia Solis Zuiker's career including the establishment of a scholarship in her honor to support graduate students in the department.

04/30/2026

Calling all early childhood educators looking for continuing education opportunities this summer! FSoS' Parent and Family Education educators have organized THREE 1-credit courses to build your portfolio! Learn more and register at this UMN continuing ed site: https://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=61503425&courseTitle=families-in-focus-summer-special-topics

04/29/2026

Did you know that Ron Asiimwe, assistant professor, played tennis in college? Here's more on Dr. Asiimwe's "back story," courtesy of Hubbard School of Journalism students!

Ronald Asiimwe had dreams bigger than his impoverished village and traditional family in Uganda would allow. Tennis, a country club sport…

04/21/2026

PhD Alum Dung Mao shares advice on dealing with financial stressors with KSTP-TV! Here's the story:

It's another Money Monday, and if you're feeling stressed about money, you're definitely not alone.

04/15/2026

Next Tuesday we celebrate our undergraduate students at the FSoS Spring Undergraduate Showcase and Senior Celebration!

The Family Social Science Spring Undergraduate Showcase highlights students' community collaborations and research.

03/25/2026

"Her research provides rigorous and practical answers to questions that matter deeply to families, educators, policymakers, and society at large. She stands out for her pioneering methodological contributions to adolescent and family research. Dr. Sun is effectively reshaping how family scientists conduct scholarship," wrote Stacey Horn, Dept. Chair and professor, in her nomination of Xiaoran Sun for a McKnight Land Grant Professorship. Read the whole story:

Xiaoran Sun, assistant professor in Family Social Science in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), is the recipient of a McKnight Land-Grant Professorship for 2026-2028. She joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 2021.