Contact

Alumni

PhD, 2019, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Advisor: 

Maureen Perry-Jenkins PhD

Laboratory Website: 

Research Area(s): 

Clinical Psychology

Center and Institute Affilitation: 

Center for Research on Families
Healthy Development Initiative at Springfield

Dissertation: 

Masters Thesis: 

Parents' Gender Ideology and Gendered Behavior as Predictors of Children's Gender-Role Attitudes: A Longitudinal Exploration

Research

Hillary's research interests include perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; breastfeeding and maternal mental health; trauma-informed care; inequality and health disparities; racial and gender socialization in the family context. The overarching goals of her work are to highlight the strengths of women and families affected by marginalization and oppression, and inform the development of interventions and policies that increase access to mental healthcare and community supports and decrease health disparities. 

Teaching

Courses offered: 

Psychology 297E: Family Psychology

Psychology 391WM: Women's Mental Health

Psychology 391FC: Intersections of Race, Class, & Gender in the Family Context (Seminar)

Psychology 397: Gender & Mental Health

Service

SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS—LOCAL COMMUNITY

Nido                                                                                                          Durham, NC

Sexuality after Parenthood Panel speaker (1/18).

A Pregnancy Circle support group                                                             Cary, NC

Group founder and co-facilitator (10/17 - present).

  • Develop discussion material and co-lead monthly support group for pregnant women
  • Serve as liaison to community-based perinatal service providers

 

Postpartum Education and Support                                                          Raleigh, NC

Member, Board of Directors (8/17 - present).

  • Contribute skills and expertise to program development and evaluation
  • Identify and assist in cultivating relationships with donors
  • Serve as a liaison to other organizations in the community
  • Participate actively in monthly board meetings, outreach efforts, and fundraising events

 

 

SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS—ACADEMIC COMMUNITY

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Peer Reviewer (9/16 - present).

  • Review manuscripts based on original research
  • Provide editorial recommendations based on journal guidelines

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clinical Psychology Division                 

Committee Chair: Clinical Psychology Division Student-Faculty Diversity (3/12 – 9/14).

  • Designed and implemented a training module for faculty and students aimed at increasing multicultural sensitivity in research, teaching and clinical work
  • Led funding initiative and obtained a grant from the American Psychological Association Commission on Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention and Training (CEMRRAT) to fund training module
  • Co-organized an annual day-long retreat centered on conducting clinical work with LGBT clients
  • Facilitated bi-monthly seminars attended by clinical psychology division doctoral students and faculty members    

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clinical Psychology Division                 

Committee Member: Clinical Psychology Division Student-Faculty Diversity Committee (9/11 - 3/12; 9/14 – 5/15)

  • Attended monthly meetings to discuss student perspectives on improving clinical and research-based training in multiculturalism
  • Collaborated on initiatives to create pedagogical and evaluative standards for division-wide training in multiculturalism
  • Worked to increase committee visibility in campus and local communities
  • Represented committee at annual LGBTQ Pride event in local community

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clinical Psychology Division     

Student Coordinator: Clinical Psychology Division Prospective Graduate Student Interview Weekend (12/11 -2/12)

  • Arranged accommodations for prospective students
  • Provided transportation for students to and from events
  • Interviewed applicants for the clinical psychology program

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clinical Psychology Division     

Committee Member: Clinical Psychology Division Integration of Clinical and Research Practices Working Group (9/11 - 12/11)

  • Attended regular meetings to discuss further increasing the integration of clinical work and research among faculty and students in the program

Publications

Halpern, H. P., & Perry-Jenkins, M. (2016). Parents’ gender ideology and gendered behavior as predictors of children’s gender-role attitudes: A longitudinal exploration. Sex Roles, 74(11-12), 527-542. doi:10.1007/s11199-015-0539-0

Perry-Jenkins, M., Smith, J. Z., Wadsworth, L. P., & Halpern, H. P. (2016). Workplace policies and mental health among working-class, new parents. Community, Work & Family, 1–24. doi: 10.1080/13668803.2016.1252721

Perry-Jenkins, M., Herman, R. J., Halpern, H. P., & Newkirk, K. (2018). From discovery to practice: Translating and transforming work-family research for the health of families. Journal of Family Relations

Hennigar, A., Halpern, H. P., & Perry-Jenkins, M. (under review). A case for congruence: Mothers’ breastfeeding beliefs and practices and postpartum depressive symptoms. Maternal and Child Health.

Halpern, H. P., Perry-Jenkins, M., & Sayer, A. (in preparation). Trajectories of depressive symptoms among low-income, new mothers: The role of father involvement.

Halpern, H. P., Hennigar, A., & Perry-Jenkins, M. (in preparation). Balancing work and breastfeeding: Stories from the working poor.  

Collaborators

Karin Garber, M.S., M.Ed.

Aya Ghunny, M.S. 

Avery Hennigar, MPH

Rachel Herman, M.S.

Katie Newkirk, M.S., M.A.

Maureen Perry-Jenkins, Ph.D. 

Biography

Hillary's research interests include perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; breastfeeding and maternal mental health; trauma-informed care; inequality and health disparities; racial and gender socialization in the family context. The overarching goals of her work are to highlight the strengths of women and families affected by marginalization and oppression, and inform the development of interventions and policies that increase access to mental healthcare and community supports and decrease health disparities. 

Courses offered: 

Psychology 297E: Family Psychology

Psychology 391WM: Women's Mental Health

Psychology 391FC: Intersections of Race, Class, & Gender in the Family Context (Seminar)

Psychology 397: Gender & Mental Health

SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS—LOCAL COMMUNITY

Nido                                                                                                          Durham, NC

Sexuality after Parenthood Panel speaker (1/18).

 

A Pregnancy Circle support group                                                             Cary, NC

Group founder and co-facilitator (10/17 - present).

  • Develop discussion material and co-lead monthly support group for pregnant women
  • Serve as liaison to community-based perinatal service providers

 

Postpartum Education and Support                                                          Raleigh, NC

Member, Board of Directors (8/17 - present).

  • Contribute skills and expertise to program development and evaluation
  • Identify and assist in cultivating relationships with donors
  • Serve as a liaison to other organizations in the community
  • Participate actively in monthly board meetings, outreach efforts, and fundraising events

 

 

SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS—ACADEMIC COMMUNITY

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Peer Reviewer (9/16 - present).

  • Review manuscripts based on original research
  • Provide editorial recommendations based on journal guidelines

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clinical Psychology Division                 

Committee Chair: Clinical Psychology Division Student-Faculty Diversity (3/12 – 9/14).

  • Designed and implemented a training module for faculty and students aimed at increasing multicultural sensitivity in research, teaching and clinical work
  • Led funding initiative and obtained a grant from the American Psychological Association Commission on Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention and Training (CEMRRAT) to fund training module
  • Co-organized an annual day-long retreat centered on conducting clinical work with LGBT clients
  • Facilitated bi-monthly seminars attended by clinical psychology division doctoral students and faculty members    

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clinical Psychology Division                 

Committee Member: Clinical Psychology Division Student-Faculty Diversity Committee (9/11 - 3/12; 9/14 – 5/15)

  • Attended monthly meetings to discuss student perspectives on improving clinical and research-based training in multiculturalism
  • Collaborated on initiatives to create pedagogical and evaluative standards for division-wide training in multiculturalism
  • Worked to increase committee visibility in campus and local communities
  • Represented committee at annual LGBTQ Pride event in local community

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clinical Psychology Division     

Student Coordinator: Clinical Psychology Division Prospective Graduate Student Interview Weekend (12/11 -2/12)

  • Arranged accommodations for prospective students
  • Provided transportation for students to and from events
  • Interviewed applicants for the clinical psychology program

 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clinical Psychology Division     

Committee Member: Clinical Psychology Division Integration of Clinical and Research Practices Working Group (9/11 - 12/11)

  • Attended regular meetings to discuss further increasing the integration of clinical work and research among faculty and students in the program 

Halpern, H. P., & Perry-Jenkins, M. (2016). Parents’ gender ideology and gendered behavior as predictors of children’s gender-role attitudes: A longitudinal exploration. Sex Roles, 74(11-12), 527-542. doi:10.1007/s11199-015-0539-0

Perry-Jenkins, M., Smith, J. Z., Wadsworth, L. P., & Halpern, H. P. (2016). Workplace policies and mental health among working-class, new parents. Community, Work & Family, 1–24. doi: 10.1080/13668803.2016.1252721

Perry-Jenkins, M., Herman, R. J., Halpern, H. P., & Newkirk, K. (2018). From discovery to practice: Translating and transforming work-family research for the health of families. Journal of Family Relations

Hennigar, A., Halpern, H. P., & Perry-Jenkins, M. (under review). A case for congruence: Mothers’ breastfeeding beliefs and practices and postpartum depressive symptoms. Maternal and Child Health.

Halpern, H. P., Perry-Jenkins, M., & Sayer, A. (in preparation). Trajectories of depressive symptoms among low-income, new mothers: The role of father involvement.

Halpern, H. P., Hennigar, A., & Perry-Jenkins, M. (in preparation). Balancing work and breastfeeding: Stories from the working poor.  

Karin Garber, M.S., M.Ed.

Aya Ghunny, M.S. 

Avery Hennigar, MPH

Rachel Herman, M.S.

Katie Newkirk, M.S., M.A.

Maureen Perry-Jenkins, Ph.D. 

Hillary is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate. Her primary research interests deal with perinatal mental health in low-income and marginalized populations. Under the mentorship of Dr. Maureen Perry-Jenkins, Hillary's research also attends to risk and resilience factors related to low-wage work during the transition to parenthood for working-class families. Racial and gender socialization in the family context are additional areas that Hillary explores through research, teaching, and in her clinical work.

In her work as a psychotherapist, Hillary uses an integrated model to suit each client's needs, drawing primarily from relational, cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral frameworks with attention to feminist and multicultural issues. Understanding relationships and early experiences, enhancing self-compassion and emotion regulation skills are central components of Hillary's approach to psychotherapy.