CV updated March 2026
CV updated March 2026
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NOW RECRUITING: Family caregivers for a research study!
Education
Education
In progress
Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Kansas
Areas of Specialization: Families and Gender
Dissertation Proposal Defense: Approved May 2025
Dissertation (in progress): “The Hidden Dimensions of Care: Understanding the Invisible Labor of Informal Caregivers”
Committee: Dr. Tracey A. LaPierre, Dr. Kelly Chong, Dr. Elizabeth Felix, Dr. Mehrengiz Najafizadeh, Dr. Jarron Saint Onge, Dr. Misty Heggeness
2021
M.A. in Sociology, University of Kansas
Thesis: “The Cumulative Cost of Care: Caregiving Over the Life Course and Severity of Depression”
Committee: Dr. Tracey A. LaPierre, Dr. David J. Ekerdt, Dr. Mehrangiz Najafizadeh, Dr. Robert J. Antonio
2012
M.S. in Family Therapy, Friends University
Capstone: “Working Model of Therapy Project: Personal Integration of Therapeutic Models”
Clinical Supervisor: Dr. Christopher M. Habben
2010
B.S. in Psychology/Human Services, Friends University
Research & Teaching Interests
Research & Teaching Interests
Caregiving Studies
Family Studies
Gender
Life Course & Aging
Mental Health
Qualitative Methods & Analysis
Publications
Publications
Presentations
Presentations
November 2025
Wendel-Hummell, Carrie and Jennifer Babitzke. “The Direct Support Workforce in Kansas: Background and Key Needs.” Presentation at the Stronger Together Conference in Topeka, KS. November 13.
October 2025
Wendel-Hummell, Carrie and Jennifer Babitzke- “Advancing the HCBS Direct Support Workforce in Kansas.” Presentation at the Kansas Governor’s Conference on Aging, Manhattan, KS. October 17.
March 2025
Wendel-Hummell, Carrie and Jennifer Babitzke- “Barriers and Opportunities for Strengthening the Direct Support Workforce in Kansas.” Poster Presentation at Frontiers Research Symposium 2025, March 4.
December 2024
Heggeness, Misty, Jennifer Babitzke, Lilly Springer. “The Economics of Child Care and Child Care Licensing in Kansas.” Presentation of our research report at the Kansas Childcare Licensing Research Webinar
November 2024
LaPierre, Tracey A., Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Jennifer Babitzke, Darcy Sullivan, and Danielle Olds. HCBS Care Coordination and Backup Care Plans During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kansas. Paper presented at the Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting.
June 2023
LaPierre, Tracey A., Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Jennifer Babitzke, Darcy Sullivan, Lora Swartzendruber, and Danielle Olds. Politicization of COVID-19 and Experiences of Care and Disability in the United States: The Case of Home Care in Kansas. Paper presented at the XX International Sociological Association (ISA) World Congress of Sociology, Melbourne Australia (Hybrid).
November 2022
LaPierre, Tracey A., Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Danielle Olds, Jennifer Babitzke, Darcy Sullivan, Lora Swartzendruber, and Tobi Barta. Stakeholder Engagement Strategies and Impact on Patient Centered Research in Home and Community Based Care. Poster presented at the Annual AcademyHealth Research Meeting, Washington, D.C.
June 2022
LaPierre, Tracey A., Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Danielle Olds, Jennifer Babitzke, Darcy Sullivan, Lora Swartzendruber, and Tobi Barta. Stakeholder Engagement Strategies and Impact on Patient Centered Research in Home and Community Based Care. Poster presented at the Annual AcademyHealth Research Meeting, Washington, D.C.
June 2022
Wendel-Hummell, Tracey A. LaPierre, Danielle Olds, Jennifer Babitzke, Darcy Sullivan, Lora Swartzendruber, and Tobi Barta. Care and Safety during the Pandemic in Home and Community Based Services: Challenges of a Fragmented System. Paper presented at the Annual AcademyHealth Research Meeting, Washington, D.C.
June 2022
Wendel-Hummell, Tracey A. LaPierre, Danielle Olds, Darcy Sullivan, Jennifer Babitzke, Lora Swartzendruber, and Tobi Barta. “They Seemed to Forget about Us Little People”: The Invisibility and Neglect of Essential Homecare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Poster presented at the Annual AcademyHealth Research Meeting, Washington, D.C.
June 2022
Olds, Danielle, Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Tracey A. LaPierre, Darcy Sullivan, Jennifer Babitzke, Lora Swartzendruber, and Gabe Mullen. Provision of Home-based Longer-term Services and Supports to Vulnerable Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Poster presented at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.
April 2022
Babitzke, Jennifer, Tracey LaPierre, Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Darcy Sullivan, Lora Swartzendruber, Clara Boyd, and Danielle Olds. “’He Definitely Don’t Care About Me’: COVID-19 Politicization and the Marginalization of Americans with Disabilities.” Presented at the Midwest Sociological Annual Conference
April 2022
Sullivan, Darcy, Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Tracey A. LaPierre, Jennifer Babitzke, Lora Swartzendruber, Clara Boyd, and Danielle Olds. “They Don’t Get Paid Even Half of What They’re Worth to Us”: Worker Shortages and Unmet Care Needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Paper presented at the Annual Midwest Sociological Society Meeting, Chicago, IL.
April 2022
Babitzke, Jennifer. “The Cumulative Cost of Care: Caregiving over the Life Course and Severity of Depression”
Presented at the Midwest Sociological Annual Conference
December 2021
Wendel-Hummell, Carrie, Tracey A. LaPierre, Danielle Olds, Darcy Sullivan, Jennifer Babitzke, and Lora Swartzendruber. Multi-level Barriers and Facilitators to Rapidly Implementing Safety Practices in Home and Community Based Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Poster presented at the 14th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, virtual.
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
2023- 2025
Graduate Research Assistant- DSW Training Project, DSW Career Ladder Project
University of Kansas, Department of Social Welfare & The Center for the Advancement of Health for Everyone (CAHE)
Developed 75 + hours of online training modules to support the direct care workforce in the state of Kansas
Secured and maintained updated Home and Community Based provider data across the state
Developed baseline and post-evaluation surveys to assess participant feedback and user experiences of the training modules
Developed and implemented a qualitative analysis plan to assess open-ended survey data; trained fellow GTAs on qualitative coding procedures
Assisted in developing marketing materials for the project.
Developed a web-based connection tool to match prospective direct care workers with hiring agencies.
Performed various administrative duties including keeping meeting minutes, communicating across colleagues and with participants, and monitoring participant feedback.
Future plans to author poster presentations and other written materials or publications sharing the projects methods, challenges, policy recommendations, and findings.
2023
Graduate Research Assistant- Childcare Project
University of Kansas, School of Public Affairs and Administration
Developed and implemented a plan to gather data within the state of Kansas on childcare licensing requirements.
Data secured through online content gathering and analysis, existing state-level data sets, and direct contact with state childcare provider organizations and officials.
Reviewed numerous state-level statutes and policies regarding childcare licensing in Kansas
Developed completed dataset to principal investigator on the project.
Co-authored research report and presented the findings to the sponsoring organization in December 2024.
2021- 2022
Graduate Research Assistant- Care and Safety Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Home-Based Long-term Services and Supports project
University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare & Center for Research on Aging & Disability Options
Conducted and transcribed interviews
Coded and analyzed qualitative data
Built thorough and technically complex surveys through Qualtrics for gathering quantitative data
Identified and implemented a qualitative data analysis program (Dedoose) and trained colleagues on Dedoose
Tracked incoming survey data, cleaned datasets
Provided various administrative duties included keeping meeting minutes, managing and issuing gift cards to study participants, developing plans for contacting participants, and communicating with participants verbally and through email.
Co-authored several peer reviewed studies, developed conference presentations, and assisted in writing research reports of study’s findings.
2020
Lead Graduate Teaching Assistant- SOC 104: Elements of Sociology
University of Kansas, Department of Sociology
Oversaw scheduling and administration of 30 discussion sections consisting of 600 to 700 students and 10 GTAs.
Assisted in transferring in-person learning format to an online and hybrid format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Managed weekly assignments, grades, professional meetings, and held consistent communication between the lead instructor and graduate teaching assistants.
Utilized Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Excel, and Blackboard LMS.
2016-2019
Community Services (Internship) Coordinator
Friends University MSFT Program
2015-2016
Owner & Clinician
Heartwood Therapy, LLC
2014-2015
Contracted External Reviewer of Graduate School Applications
Friends University, MSFT Graduate Program
Reviewed graduate student application materials for content, grammar, punctuation, and flow.
Assisted the faculty in determining if graduate students displayed evidence of readiness for the MSFT program.
2012
Workshop Instructor- APA Writing Workshop
Friends University MSFT Graduate Program
Developed a workshop presentation on APA Writing and Formatting for first year graduate students in Master of Science in Family Therapy program.
Teaching and Course Design Experience
Teaching and Course Design Experience
2025
Online Learning Module: “Social Determinants of Health”
University of Kansas, Department of Social Welfare, Kansas Direct Support Workforce Development Project
2025
Online Learning Module: “DSW Burnout and Approaches to Self-Care”
University of Kansas, Department of Social Welfare, Kansas Direct Support Workforce Development Project
2022-2023
Instructor- Sociology of Families
University of Kansas, Department of Sociology
*Received the Carlin Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Award for this course
2019-2020
Teaching Assistant- Elements of Sociology
University of Kansas, Department of Sociology
2019
Adjunct Instructor- Theories of Personality
Park University, Department of Psychology
2018-2019
Adjunct Instructor- Introduction to Guidance and Counseling
Park University, Department of Psychology
2016
Teaching Assistant- Clinical Internship I
Friends University, Masters of Family Therapy Program
Funding & Awards
Funding & Awards
2025
2025
KU Doctoral Student Research Fund, $1,330
Departmental Funding- Christopher Gunn Scholarship, $2,500
Departmental Funding- Samuel and Freda Sass Fund for Professional Development, $750
Research Excellence Initiative (REI)-Graduate Student Grant-Writing Incentive Fund (GWI-GS), KU CLAS Dean’s Office, $1,000
2024
2024
Carlin Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Award, Office of Graduate Studies, $750
Institute for Policy & Social Research (IPSR), Doctoral Research Fellow
2023
2023
Applied Humanities Boot Camp, The Hall Center for the Humanities, $500
Departmental Funding- Louise Julie Doehring McClendon Scholarship, Department of Gerontology (KU), $1,250
Departmental Funding- Helen Waddle Roofe Research Scholarship, Department of Sociology (KU) $2,000
Departmental Funding- Morris C. Pratt & Carroll D. Clark Graduate Student Scholarship, Department of Sociology (KU) $750
2022
2022
Sociology Teaching Portfolio Workshop Participation Grant, $100
Departmental Funding- Louise Julie Doehring McClendon Scholarship, Department of Gerontology (KU), $1,000
Midwest Sociological Society Travel Grant, $150
Alpha Kappa Delta Travel Grant, $200
Outstanding Thesis Project Award, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences $375
2021
2021
Departmental Funding- Louise Julie Doehring McClendon Scholarship, Department of Gerontology (KU), $1,000
Departmental Funding- Helen Waddle Roofe Scholarship, Department of Sociology, $1,350
Departmental Funding- Carroll D. Clark & Morris C. Pratt Graduate Student Scholarship, Department of Sociology (KU), $500
2020
2020
Excellence in Gerontology Award, Gerontology Program (KU), $1,000
Departmental Funding- Carroll D. Clark & Morris C. Pratt Graduate Student Scholarship, Department of Sociology (KU), $500
2012
2012
Sheldon Louthan Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Family Therapy, $200
Service
Service
2023- Current
Managing Editor, STAR (Social Thought and Research) Journal
2023
Graduate Research Assistant- Department of Sociology, Alumni Interview Project
2021-2023
Assistant Editor, STAR (Social Thought and Research) Journal
2020-Current
Various positions, SGSA (KU Sociology Graduate Student Association)
2018-2020
Secretary and Founder, MOKAN (Missouri/Kansas Marriage and Family Therapy Network)
Professional Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
2025- Current
Southern Gerontological Society
2021- Current
Midwest Sociological Society
2021- Current
American Sociological Association
2021- 2023
The Gerontological Society of America
2020- Current
Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society
2019- Current
National Council on Family Relations
2019- Current
KU Sociology Graduate Student Association
2011- Current
Delta Kappa Honor Society for Marriage and Family Therapy
2003- Current
Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology
Skills and Program Knowledge
Skills and Program Knowledge
Advanced survey development in Qualtrics
Advanced MS Excel including vba coding
R Studio quantitative data analysis software
QualCoder qualitative coding software
Dedoose qualitative coding software
Blackboard Online Learning Platform, certificate of training
Canvas LMS
Canva Graphic Design program
Microsoft Teams
Zoom
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