Lab News, Awards, and Recognitions
Welcome to the Lab News, Awards, and Recognition section of the THRIVE Research Lab at The Ohio State University. Here, we proudly emphasize all of the wins of our lab members! We also highlight the cutting-edge contributions of our PhD students, who are making significant strides in the field of social work and trauma research. Through their dedicated efforts, our students are not only advancing academic understanding but are also laying the groundwork for innovative interventions. Their work, crucial to our mission, addresses the complex effects of childhood trauma and enhances the resilience and well-being of affected children and adolescents.
2025
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Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Parmenter on earning her PhD and starting an exciting new role at the GRC at OSU—what a wonderful achievement and next chapter!
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Congratulations to Öznur for her article “Expanded Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale (BCEs-20): Psychometric Properties and Comparison of BCEs-Original and BCEs-Revised”, published in Journal of Child and Family Studies! You can read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-025-03169-x​
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We are thrilled to welcome back Oznur Bayar, who previously joined us as a visiting scholar, and is now returning from Türkiye to our lab as a post-doctoral scholar!
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Congratulations to Charis for her article “Social support among former foster youth across placement types”, published in Child and Youth Services Review! You can read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108433
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Congratulations to Öznur for her article “Childhood Maltreatment and Psychological Resilience of University Student Emerging Adults: The Promotive and Protective Roles of Positive Childhood Experiences,” published in Emerging Adulthood! You can read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968251376388
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Congratulations to Yujeong for her article “The Positive Early Childhood Education (PECE) Program: A Preliminary Multi-Method Evaluation in the State of Ohio” published in Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal! You can read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-025-01047-5
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Congratulations to Yujeong for winning the 2025 Selma & Alexander Erlen Endowment Fund for Doctoral Support, which is awarded to a well-rounded doctoral student showing excellence across teaching, research, and service!
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Congratulations to Yujeong for winning the 2025 Doctoral Student Organization Community Involvement Award, which is awarded to a doctoral student who is recognized for creating a productive and caring environment for the doctoral student community!
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Congratulations to Philomina for being interviewed and featured (with staff action photographs) in the 2025 College of Social Work Alumni Magazine for contributions as an international student and MSW intern with The Buckeye Ranch! https://alumnimagazine.osu.edu/story/big-must-social-work-students-field-work
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Lorenzo got elected to serve as the new chairperson of the education committee for the Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare. https://sswlhc.org/ Way to go, Lorenzo!
2024
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Congratulations, Juan Lorenzo Benavides!
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We are thrilled to announce that Juan Lorenzo Benavides, PhD candidate in the College of Social Work, has been selected as one of Ohio State’s 2024 Community Engaged Graduate Student Award recipients.
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Juan’s engaged scholarship bridges rigorous research with hands‑on service to improve the lives of children and families. From spearheading the FatherUp dialogic‑reading initiative that empowers Black fathers to share literacy‑rich moments with their children, to partnering with local refugee organizations to create culturally responsive resource hubs, Juan exemplifies the Buckeye spirit of community stewardship.
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Presented by the Office of Outreach and Engagement, this prestigious award includes a $500 contribution to further support Juan’s community engagement efforts. He and fellow honorees were celebrated at an awards luncheon on April 30, 2024.
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Please join us in applauding Juan Lorenzo Benavides for his dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to meaningful change across Central Ohio and beyond.
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Yujeong’s paper, "The Protective Role of School Connectedness in the Relationship Between Child Maltreatment and Internalizing Symptoms for White, Black, Latino/Hispanic, and Multiracial Youth," has been accepted for publication in Child Abuse & Neglect—one of the top journals in the field of child welfare research!
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This important study uses data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to explore how school connectedness may help buffer the impact of child maltreatment on internalizing symptoms across different racial and ethnic groups. While school connectedness was generally linked to fewer internalizing symptoms, its protective effects against maltreatment were most evident among White youth—pointing to critical implications for making school environments more responsive and supportive for racially and ethnically minoritized youth.
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Yujeong poured so much time, thought, and care into this work, and we’re thrilled to see her efforts recognized. Congratulations, Yujeong—we are so proud of you!
Uwe Wernekinck, Phd
Congratulations to Dr. Uwe Wernekinck on His First Published Article!
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We are thrilled to celebrate our recent graduate, Dr. Uwe Wernekinck, from the Thrive Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Susan Yoon. Uwe has achieved a significant milestone by publishing his first article in the Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly.
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Article Title: "One Can’t Occur Without the Other”: How Men Describe the Connection Between Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse and Addiction Recovery
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In this impactful qualitative study, Uwe interviewed 25 male survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) who are in long-term addiction recovery. His research uncovers the cyclical relationship between healing from CSA and sustaining sobriety—highlighting that healing enables recovery and vice versa. The study emphasizes the critical importance of addressing histories of CSA in supporting men's addiction recovery journeys.
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Read the full study here: Access the Article
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Join us in congratulating Dr. Wernekinck on this outstanding achievement! His dedication and contributions are an inspiration to all social work students and professionals.
Lorenzo Benavides, a promising PhD candidate at Ohio State University, has been distinguished as a Columbus-Athens Albert Schweitzer Fellow for the 2024-25 cohort. This prestigious fellowship recognizes graduate students committed to addressing critical health needs in underserved communities through impactful service projects.
Lorenzo’s project involves a partnership with Refugee Women in Action, a local organization focused on supporting refugee communities. His initiative aims to develop an interactive resource list tailored to the specific needs of refugee women, coupled with a comprehensive needs-based assessment. This project not only seeks to provide immediate resources but also aims to understand and address the deeper, ongoing needs of the refugee population in Columbus.
Through his dedicated service, Lorenzo exemplifies the core mission of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship — to mitigate health disparities and foster a community of professionals deeply committed to public service. His work not only benefits the refugee women directly but also enriches his own professional development and expertise in creating effective community health interventions. Lorenzo’s commitment to service and his innovative approach to community health make a significant contribution to the local community and reflect the values and aspirations of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship.
Charis Stanek recently accepted a summer intern position with the U.S. Navy’s Office of Force Resiliency, where she will broadly be investigating risk and protective factors among members of the Navy and their families. She will serve as a Prevention Analyst in which she will support the Navy’s Integrated Primary Prevention team’s efforts to develop and evaluate programming and policies aimed at reducing harmful behaviors impacting Navy communities (e.g., child maltreatment, suicide, substance use disorder). More specifically, she will engage in data collection, analysis, and the dissemination of research findings to improve Navy culture and organizational structure in the hopes of ultimately improving the health and well-being of Navy populations.
Logan Knight (Kai) has just completed her doctoral studies at the College of Social Work, Ohio State University. We wish to congratulate her for winning the Merriss Cornell Distinguished Scholar Award for her doctoral dissertation, “A Place at the (Academic) Table: Privileging Survivors’ First-Person Knowledge of Resilience During and After Sex Trafficking”. In this study, Kai partners with survivors to gather their insights and strategies for attaining resilience amidst conditions of oppression and struggle, and to use this knowledge to extend resilience theory and improve interventions. Her work to address the exclusionary traditions of research and engage survivors of human trafficking in emancipatory research has also won the Merriss Research Scholarship and the LifePaths Promising Scholars Award. In fall 2024, Kai will join the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas as an Assistant Professor. We look forward Kai’s future contributions to establishing equitable alliances between the academy and communities experiencing marginalization and oppression in order to advance theory and praxis.
DREAM Project - Second Cohort
The DREAM (Daddy Reads With Me) program recently celebrated the conclusion of its second cohort. This father-focused initiative empowers fathers to read to their children via Zoom while learning dialogic reading techniques. By strengthening bonds between fathers and their children, enhancing co-parenting dynamics, and providing valuable feedback, the program hopes to make a lasting impact on the participants and their families. The in-person meeting marked a meaningful close to the journey shared by the cohort, highlighting the growth and experiences from their time together.
Recap of the "Reading with Dad" Event
We are thrilled to share the success of our recent "Reading with Dad" event held at Scioto Audubon Metro Park on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The event was a wonderful opportunity for fathers and their children to bond through literacy and interactive activities.
Event Highlights:
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Special Guest: Damon Mosley, the renowned children's book author, captivated the audience with a reading of his book "Sole Mates".
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Fun Activities: Families enjoyed a variety of interactive activities designed to strengthen father-child relationships.
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Giveaways and Prizes: Every attendee received free food, a raffle entry for a chance to win a cooler and more, and complimentary bags, blankets, and books.
The event, organized by the DREAM program (Daddy REAds with Me) in collaboration with The Ohio State University College of Social Work, FatherUp, Ohio Department of Children & Youth, and Action for Children, was a fantastic success. We appreciate everyone who attended and contributed to making this event memorable.
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Stay tuned for more events and opportunities to engage with the community!
2023
Graduate Faculty Mentorship Award 2023-24 Recipient
Dr. Susan Yoon, an esteemed Associate Professor at the College of Social Work at Ohio State University and the director of the THRIVE Research Lab, has been honored with the prestigious Graduate Faculty Mentorship Award. This accolade is bestowed annually by Ohio State University's Graduate School to recognize exceptional faculty members who exemplify outstanding mentorship to graduate and professional students. Dr. Yoon was selected for this award for her unwavering commitment to fostering a nurturing and supportive environment that promotes both academic and personal growth among her mentees.
Her mentoring style is particularly noted for creating individualized development plans, assisting with networking opportunities, and providing extensive support during the job search process, including mock interviews and job talks. Her approach not only enhances her mentees' professional development but also cultivates resilience, making a significant impact on their careers and personal development. Dr. Yoon's dedication to mentorship, combined with her leadership in trauma and resilience research, truly embodies the spirit of the Graduate Faculty Mentorship Award, underlining her role as a vital asset to the academic community at Ohio State University.
You can read more here.
