A student speaks to a representative from UF/IFAS Extension about internships and volunteer opportunities at the FYCS Volunteer and Networking Fair.

FYCS Undergraduate Practicum Report 2025

by Jessica Alday
April 13, 2026

Each year, senior FYCS majors at the University of Florida (UF) complete their practicum at a community-oriented organization that they align with. We prepare seniors for this required internship by helping them make connections with local organizations ... READ MORE

Category: , Community Volunteers, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Archive, CALS, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, FYCS, FYCS Practicum, Internships, Volunteer
Dr. Kate Fletcher calls on a student in her Foundations of Youth Development class.

Classroom Snapshots: Foundations of Youth Development

by Jessica Alday
April 8, 2026

It's the Monday after Spring Break, and while many students may choose to extend their vacation, the students in Dr. Kate Fletcher's Foundations of Youth Development course (FYC3201) are ready for their morning class. Students greet each ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, FYC3201, FYCS, Service Learning, Youth Development
Graphic of Valla Boffey on a blue gradient background.

What Can I Do With an FYCS Degree? Valla Boffey Shares Her Story

by Jessica Alday
March 30, 2026

Have you ever wondered what you can do with your Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS) degree? We sat down with Valla Boffey, FYCS Class of 2024, to reflect on her journey from FYCS student to summer camp program director. Valla Boffey ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Alumni, Archive, CALS Alumni, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, FYCS Alumni, What Can I Do With An FYCS Degree?
The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

Tales from UF in Ireland: Two Students Share Their Experience

by Jessica Alday
March 17, 2026

On the river between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay lies the city of Galway, Ireland. Known for its colorful buildings and whimsical artists, every year, Galway hosts a cohort of students passionate about service-learning through UF in Galway & ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Archive, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, FYCS, Service Learning, Study Abroad, UF In Ireland, Youth Development
A computer chip inside a motherboard.

Dr. Xiaoya Zhang Discusses AI in Family, Youth and Community Science Research at the UF/IFAS AI Summit

by Jessica Alday
March 13, 2026

At the UF/IFAS AI Summit, Assistant Professor Dr. Xiaoya Zhang presented her innovative, AI-powered research that investigated a support program for high-risk families. Her study examined the effectiveness of the Family Check-Up Online Program, ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: AI, AI Research, Archive, Artificial Intelligence, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, Mental Health, Prevention Science, Youth Development And Family Sciences
An Italian stew cooking in a pot on a hot plate. Photo taken 02-26-25.

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Family, Youth and Community Sciences (Jan.–Feb. 2026)

by Amanda Quintos
March 4, 2026

A Taste of Culture: Overview of the Systematic Refinement of a Culinary- and Spice-based Extension Program Isabella Alobele, Lori Johnson, Hillary MacMichael, Amy Mullins, Ava Theng, Madison Gindea, Ryan Perez, Tatiana Tchuisse, Yvette Vork, ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Cooking, Curriculum, Heat, Heat Stress, Herbs, Safety, Spices, Taste Of Culture

This prevention science researcher studies youth right alongside them

by Jessica Alday
February 12, 2026

Erin Vines is a doctoral candidate in the Youth Development and Family Science (YDFS) program at the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS). She conducts research on youth and families experiencing adversity. She focuses ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Archive, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, Parental Incarceration, Prevention Science, Youth Development, Youth Development And Family Sciences, Youth Participatory Action Research
Hand on a laptop keyboard.

A Prevention Scientist’s Journey to Address Teens’ Mental Health Online

by Jessica Alday
February 4, 2026

Josie Bryan is a Doctoral Candidate in Youth Development and Family Sciences (YDFS) in the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS). She conducts prevention science research that tries to understand teens' mental health ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Archive, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, Digital Media, Mental Health, Prevention Science, Social Media, Youth Development, Youth Development And Family Sciences
HiPerGator AI supercomputer at the University of Florida.

PreventiGators research team wins HiPerGator Pioneering Research Award During UF AI Days

by Jessica Alday
November 10, 2025

Researchers in the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences are investigating factors that may lead teens to tobacco addiction in adulthood, and their AI-powered research is making waves. During the University of Florida’s ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Addiction, AI, AI Research, Archive, Artificial Intelligence, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, Family Youth And Community Sciences, HiPerGator, Prevention Science, Tobacco Use, UF AI Days

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