Human Development and Family Sciences

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William Woelki portrait

Cohort: 2022

Contact

woelki@udel.edu

Advisor(s):

Dr. Ann Aviles

Specialization(s):

Housing Instability and Communities

Research Interest(s)

Housing Instability, Improving transition-based outcomes for systems involved youth, and participatory action research.

William Woelki

William Woelki is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Human Development and Family Sciences program at the University of Delaware. His research focuses on two key areas: (1) Transition-based outcomes for youth aging out of the foster care system, and (2) Housing instability, with an emphasis on understanding youth perspectives and experiences. William is a member of the Housing Literacy & Praxis Lab (HL-PL) and also serves as a teaching assistant for HDFS 202: Diversity and Families. He earned his B.A. in Biology and Child & Family Studies from Berea College, Kentucky, and his M.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Delaware in May 2024.

Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Buell, M., Kuntz, S., Whitaker, A., Hustedt, J. T., Slicker, G., & Woelki, W. (2024). Policies addressing suspension and expulsion in state early care and education subsystems: A national census of policy alignment and integration. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 67, 191–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2023.12.009
  • Carey, R. L., Vilceus, S. S., Polanco, C., Miller, M. X., Marianno, L., & Woelki, W. (2024). Studying and Imagining Mattering With Black Boys: Mutual Self-Discoveries for Collective Healing and Liberation. Qualitative Inquiry, 10778004241269976. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778004241269976

Journal Articles Under Review

  • Carey, R; Vilceus, S; Polanco, C; Blackman, H; Daughtry, K; Abrams, H; Miller, M; Marianno, L; Sunshine Vilceus, S; Alobwede, E; Woelki, W (Under Review). “They Just Don’t Get that We Matter”: Black Boys’ Critical Consciousness Development During a Health Crisis and Racial Reckoning. The Urban Review
  • Carey, R; Polanco, C; Vilceus, S; Miller, M; Blackman, H; Marianno, Daughtry, K; Abrams, H; Woelki, W (Under Review). Strategic Avoidance and the Contours of Black Adolescent Boys’ Perceived School Mattering During a Health Crisis and Racial Reckoning. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk.

Journal Articles in Preparation

  • Woelki, W., Aviles, A., Layland, E., Goldstein, S & Watson, R . (In Preparation). Unveiling Intersectional Realities: Understanding LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness. Journal. 
  • Woelki, W. (Expected 2024). Perspetives. Michele Wakin (Eds.), Homelessness in America: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO.

Recent Presentations

  • Woelki, W.,  (2024, May). Understanding Queer Youth Housing Instability. Cross University Collaborative Mentoring Conference, New York, New York.
  • Woelki, W., (2024, April). Unveiling Intersectional Realities: Understanding LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness. [Poster presentation]. Steele Symposium, University of Delaware. Newark, Delaware.
  • Milller, M; Woelki, W; Carey, R; Vilceus, S; Polanco, C; Blackman, H; Daughtry, K; Abrams, H; Miller, M; Marianno, L; Sunshine Vilceus, S; Alobwede, E. (2023, April). “They Just Don’t Get that We Matter”: Black Boys’ Critical Consciousness Development During a Health Crisis and Racial Reckoning [Poster presentation]. Steele Symposium, University of Delaware. Newark, Delaware.

Invited Presentations

  • Woelki, W. (2024, September). Surviving and Thriving in Graduate School Invited presentation at Graduate Student Discovery Series, Newark, Delaware.
  • Woelki, W. (2024, July). Foster Youth Housing Instability: Uplifting Youth Voice Invited presentation at Housing for All Rally, Wilmington, Delaware.
  • Woelki, W. (2023, March). Youth Homelessness In Delaware: What can we do? Invited presentation at Student Justice Peer Educator Initiative, Newark, Delaware.

Professional Experiences

  • MSC Research Intern 2021, worked alongside the MSC Federal Way, Washington food bank to conduct critical research outlining community needs and equitable solutions to poverty.
  • Writing Seminar Teaching Assistant 2019-2020, Teaching Assistant for Dr. Meta Mendel-Reyes and Dr. Vicky Hayes in the GSTR 110 and 210 Seminars.

 Honors and Awards

  • Dean’s Scholar Award, University of Delaware, 2022-pres
  • Steele Symposium Graduate Poster Award 2nd Place, University of Delaware, 2024
  • Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship 2019
  • Berea College Full Tuition Scholarship 2018– 2022
  • Berea College Deans Scholar 2018 – 2022
  • E.R. Brann Good Citizens Award 2022
  • Child and Family Studies Department Award 2022
  • Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipient 2019

Professional Memberships

  • Kappa Omicron Nu (2020-Present)

Past Education

  • M.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences: Adolescent Research, 2024 University of Delaware
  • B.A. Biology, Berea College, Berea, 2022
  • B.A. Child and Family Studies (Concentration: Child Development), Berea College, Berea, 2