Cecilia Kankam Kusi

I am a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Science and a master's student in Early Intervention at Mississippi State University. My research focuses on early childhood development, school readiness, parent-child relationships, early literacy, and family factors that influence children's developmental outcomes. I am particularly interested in understanding how family and contextual factors shape children's development and well-being and in developing evidence-based strategies to support children and families.

Personal Bio

Cecilia Kankam Kusi is a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Science and a master's student in Early Intervention at Mississippi State University. Originally from Ghana, she developed an early interest in community development, education, and child well-being through her experiences growing up and working with children and families in diverse settings. These experiences inspired her commitment to understanding the factors that shape children's developmental outcomes and supporting families through research, education, and community engagement.

Cecilia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Rural Development from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, in 2020. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong interest in research and community development, which led her to complete research examining adolescents' perceptions of contraceptive use in Ghana. Her training in rural development provided her with a multidisciplinary perspective on how social, economic, and environmental factors influence individual and community well-being.

Following graduation, Cecilia joined the Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD) at KNUST as a Research Assistant. In this role, she contributed to a variety of research and development projects involving quantitative and qualitative data collection, project monitoring, proposal development, and stakeholder engagement. She also participated in research examining child labor in cocoa-growing communities in Ghana, contributing to efforts that informed evidence-based decision-making by development organizations and community stakeholders.

Driven by a desire to address complex social and developmental challenges, Cecilia pursued a Master of Development Practice at Auburn University. Her graduate training exposed her to interdisciplinary approaches for addressing global and community development issues, including poverty reduction, health, education, and sustainable development. While at Auburn, she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Global Studies in Human Sciences, supporting undergraduate learning and assessment. She also worked as an Auxiliary Pre-K Teacher at the Harris Early Learning Center, where she assisted in implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences for preschool children and supporting their social, emotional, and cognitive development. These experiences strengthened her interest in early childhood development and reinforced her desire to pursue a career focused on improving outcomes for children and families.

In recognition of her academic achievements, Cecilia received Auburn University's competitive Graduate Fellowship and was a member of the winning team in the inaugural Master of Development Practice Global Challenge competition. Her team's Sabah Poverty Reduction and Flood Recovery Initiative was recognized for its innovation, depth, and potential real-world impact.

Currently, Cecilia serves as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Family Resilience Lab at Mississippi State University. Her research focuses on early childhood development, school readiness, parent-child relationships, early literacy, and family factors that influence child developmental outcomes. She is particularly interested in understanding how parenting practices, parenting self-efficacy, family stress, poverty, trauma, and other contextual factors shape children's development and well-being across diverse populations. Her work seeks to identify protective factors that promote positive developmental outcomes and inform interventions that support children and families.

Her current research projects examine the role of shared book reading and home literacy experiences in children's developmental outcomes, parenting and family processes, and the psychosocial well-being of diverse populations. Through this work, she aims to generate evidence that can inform programs, policies, and interventions that strengthen families and support healthy child development.

Beyond research, Cecilia volunteers with the Trauma-Informed Parenting and Professional Strategies (TIPPS) Extension Program, which supports families through trauma-informed education and outreach. She also serves as Membership Presiding Officer-Elect for the Southeastern Council on Family Relations (SECFR), contributing to membership engagement and professional development initiatives within the organization. In 2026, she was selected as a Horowitz Early Career Scholar through the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), a competitive mentorship program designed to support emerging scholars in child development research.

Cecilia's long-term goal is to become a faculty member and Extension specialist whose work advances knowledge on child and family well-being while translating research into practical solutions for communities. Through research, teaching, mentorship, and outreach, she hopes to contribute to policies and programs that promote healthy development, educational success, and resilience among children and families, particularly those facing adversity and limited access to resources.

Education

Ph.D., Human Development and Family Science, Mississippi State University (Current)
M.S., Early Intervention, Mississippi State University (Current)
Master of Development Practice, Auburn University
Study and Travel in Human Sciences, Technological University Dublin
B.A., Geography and Rural Development, KNUST

Current Position

Graduate Research Assistant, Family Resilience Lab
Membership Presiding Officer-Elect, SECFR
Volunteer, Truma Informed Parenting and Professional Strategies (TIPPS) Extension Program

Professional Training and Certifications

Research with Children (CITI)
Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research (CITI)
Ages and Stages of Childhood Assessments
Adaptation to Reduce Child Stress