Oluwatobi (Tobi) Mogbojuri is a doctoral student in the HDFS program and a Graduate Dean Fellow. Tobi is a CFLE and a registered COSP Facilitator. Tobi earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Ibadan Nigeria and was a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at Western Illinois University. He has played some key roles and made substantial contributions in donor-funded research by the World Health Organization (WHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department for International Development (DFID), among others. Tobi has led multiple health and education activities and his research has been used to inform national policies that have direct implications on the well-being outcomes of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Tobi is working under the auspices of Dr. Bridget Walsh to strategically refine his research agenda, given their shared interests in family life education, at-risk populations, and well-being as an outcome.
Fabio Cristallini La Volpe
Fabio graduated with a bachelor’s in Secondary Education from the University of Puerto Rico. He worked on the beautiful island as a high school teacher, prior to becoming interested in early childhood education. He lived in Madrid for two years, where he worked as an English teacher with both children and adult students. From Spain, Fabio moved to Vancouver, Canada, to pursue his AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) diploma at the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia. He moved to the Bay Area, California, in 2016, and worked as a Montessori teacher until 2022. Fabio is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Human Development and Family Science at the University of Nevada, Reno. He joined Dr. Walsh and her research team in their efforts in the area of Home Visiting and Family Involvement and Engagement.
Fabio was born in Venice, Italy, and grew up in the gulf of Naples. He can still understand some Venetian, and can speak, read and sing in Neapolitan. He is fluent in English, Italian and Spanish, and enjoys cooking, stargazing, storytelling, yoga, hiking and biking. He is also interested in statistics and psychology.
Peji Kwajaleine Romo
I am from the Philippines and the first in my family to pursue graduate studies. I hold a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in School Counseling. After completing my studies, I worked as a guidance coordinator for four years, during which I developed and implemented programs aimed at enhancing student success. One of my key initiatives was a home visitation program that engaged families in addressing issues related to students' academic performance. Through these home visits, I gained a deeper understanding of how family dynamics shape the broader context of a student's development, which inspired my shift in focus toward Family Science. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D in Human Development and Family Science. My research centers on understanding how families contribute to the overall development of individuals and, conversely, how individuals impact family systems. I am particularly focused on the importance of early development, starting from conception, and how understanding these early influences can help design and implement support systems that positively affect long-term outcomes. I am committed to deepening my knowledge of family dynamics and their influence on overall outcomes.
Antoinette Cavanaugh Antoinette Cavanaugh is a Native Nevadan, born in Owyhee, Nevada and is a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. She graduated from Boise State University with her B.A. and from the University of Nevada, Reno with her M.A. in Educational Administration and Higher Education. Antoinette is now pursuing her Ph.D. in HDFS. She comes to this program with an extensive background in teaching and K-12 leadership after working in the public school district for several years. Antoinette is also a recipient of the 2023 – 2024 Graduate Dean’s Fellowship.