The School of Human Environmental Sciences (HES) welcomes three new faculty members this fall: Jason Swanson, lecturer, in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science; Trent Parker, assistant professor, in the Department of Family Studies; and Tracey Werner-Wilson, clinic director and lecturer for the School of HES.

Trent Parker wants to know how therapy works, and how the interaction between the therapist and the client affect the outcome of treatment. His ongoing research addresses this question, including his dissertation on the use of therapeutic stories and emotion.  Through his current research project, he will be able apply this interest to the students of FAM-787, which is a supervised practicum observing student therapists at work. Most recently teaching at the College of Health and Human Services at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Parker will be teaching an undergraduate course on adolescence in the spring in addition to FAM-787. Parker is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and graduated with a M.S. from Indiana State University and his Ph.D. from Texas Tech University.

Jason Swanson began his career at the age of 16, cleaning hotel rooms in his native Virginia Beach. From that experience grew an interest in the hospitality and tourism business, leading him to several diverse positions in the field, including a commercial real estate appraiser and software consultant for hotel computer systems. Swanson's main interest is how the different elements of tourism, i.e. hotels, restaurants, and the community, work together to create an attractive travel destination. Swanson has a Masters of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State. He is a co-author of the book Tourism Policy and Planning: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, and will be teaching HMT-120 (Intro to Hospitality Management and Tourism) and HMT-320 (Hospitality and Tourism Marketing).

Also new to the School of Human Environmental Sciences is Tracey Werner-Wilson, clinic director and lecturer. Werner-Wilson has the exciting challenge of introducing changes to the UK Family Center, the on-site therapy Clinic which offers assistance to families, couples, and individuals.  "We are pleased that Tracey has joined us as Director of the Family Center.  Under her leadership, we anticipate expanding services to our clientele and creating new learning experiences for our students," shared Dr. Ann Vail, Director of the School of Human Environmental Sciences. Werner-Wilson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has owned a private practice, and worked in for profit and non-for-profit agencies. She brings to her students a passion for families, children, and play therapy, and will teach FAM-787 (Supervised Practicum) and FAM-254 (Life Course in Human Development). Werner-Wilson received her MSW from Western Michigan University.