S T A R S D I R E C T O R
Dr. Goble is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Texas State University. She completed her postdoctoral work in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia and earned her doctorate in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University. Dr. Goble also has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Needs from Purdue University.
Dr. Goble has taught in several early childhood settings including classrooms with typically developing children and those with special needs and in local, national, and university-affiliated child care and education centers. Her work in these environments fostered a strong desire to understand and promote young children’s development. Accordingly, Dr. Goble’s teaching, research, and policy interests center on early childhood development within education settings. Her research focuses on children’s preschool experiences with teachers, peers, and activities, in particular during play settings, and how these experiences influence the development of school readiness skills. She also has interest and expertise in longitudinally examining children’s school readiness as it relates to positive development in elementary school and beyond.
G R A D U A T E S T A R S
Joshua Rogalski
Joshua Rogalski is a first year graduate student in the Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) program at Texas State University. Joshua graduated with his B.S. in HDFS at Texas State University in 2021. Joshua’s research interests include: emotional understanding in early childhood and the role of music/media.
A L U M N I S T A R S
Pond Ezra
Pond Ezra is now a graduate student at the University of Maryland. Pond graduated with their Master’s in Human Development and Family Sciences from Texas State University in 2022. In 2020 they graduated with a B.A. in Psychology a from Texas State University. Pond’s research interests include: the role of diverse family structures, fathers, and religiosity in children’s development.
Hailey Thomas
Hailey Thomas graduated from Texas State University in 2022 with a Master’s in Human Development and Family Sciences with a specialization in Child Life. In 2020 she graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from at Texas State University. Hailey’s research interests focus on the quality of relationships between Certified Child Life Specialists and their patients within hospital settings.
Elaine Fife
Elaine Fife is now a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A) at Bloom Therapy in Austin. She graduated with her Master’s in Counseling from Texas State University in 2021. In 2016 she graduated with her B.A. in Psychology and minor in Family Child Development at Texas State University. Elaine’s research interests include: the effects of mindfulness techniques on teacher/child and parent/child relationships, play therapy, developmental sexual health education, and childhood resilience.
Toria Flynn
Toria Flynn is now an Associate Medical Writer at Clinical Research PPD in Austin. She graduated with her Master’s in Family and Child Development from Texas State University in 2020. In 2016 she graduated from Texas Tech University with her B.A. in Psychology. Her research interests include: hospitalization, social development, and quantitative methodology.
Cambrian Nauman
Cambrian Nauman now a PhD student in the Educational Psychology PhD program at University of Texas – Austin. She graduated with her Master’s in Family and Child Development from Texas State University in 2019. Her research interests include: child and adolescent development, early childhood development within education settings, childhood resilience, and in particular how experiences in early childhood influence an adolescent’s ability to be resilient.