Department of Human & Community Development, University of Illinois

                                                                                                           
                    

Graduate Students

Lyndal Bee Lian Khaw

Lyndal Khaw

  • BS in Psychology from University of Illinois (2003)
  • MS in HDFS from University of Illinois (2006)
  • Currently working on PhD in Human & Community Development



Advisor: Jennifer Hardesty

Professional/Research Interests:
Intimate Partner Violence, specifically how women negotiate family relationships and make decisions to leave as well as their resources in the process of leaving. My research experiences range from understanding IPV in different contexts, such as among lesbian mothers (Lesbian Mothers Project), influence of pets on women's decisions to leave partners (Healthy Pets, Strong Families Project), and divorced mothers (Divorced Moms Project).

I am professionally involved in the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), Illinois Student Council on Family Relations (ISCFR), North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), and the International Association for Qualitative Inquiry.

Assistantships Held as a Graduate Student at Illinois:
Research Assistant for Dr. Hardesty (Custody Evaluation Project, Healthy Pets, Strong Families Project, Divorced Moms Project) and Dr. Hardesty and Dr. Oswald (Lesbian Mothers Project). Teaching Assistant for Dr. Jovanovic (HDFS 105); Ms. Trujillo (HDFS 120); Ms. Monday-Dorsey (HDFS 450).

Honors and Awards:
2009

  • Cindy Winter Scholarship Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service, National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)
  • Above and Beyond Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department, Human and Community Development, University of Illinois.
  • NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA)
  • Louis V. Logeman Graduate Student Teaching Award, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), University of Illinois
  • Ernest Anderson Memorial Fellowship, University of Illinois
  • Clareta Walker Graduate Fellowship, University of Illinois

2008

  • Pampered Chef Family Resiliency Program Dissertation Enhancement Award, Pampered Chef Family Resiliency Program, The Pampered Chef, Ltd.
  • Susan Kahl Funkhouser Leadership Development Award, College of ACES, University of Illinois
  • List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students, University of Illinois (Coordinator and Graduate Co-Instructor for Practicum in HDFS)

2007

  • Jessie Bernard Outstanding Research Proposal from a Feminist Perspective, NCFR
  • Graduate College Conference Travel Grant, University of Illinois

2006

  • Janice M. Smith Memorial Fellowship, University of Illinois

What I like best about Illinois is that it is my home away from home and I have had the best educational experience here.

As an HCD graduate student I thoroughly enjoy my interactions with my advisor and other faculty members who are so supportive of graduate students' professional interests and endeavors. I am also grateful for the lasting friendships I have made with other students in my department.

Hometown:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hobbies:
Traveling, cooking, being a big Illini fan, hanging out with my pets and watching Forensic Files on TV

Fun Fact:
I have 2 rabbits and a cat that keep us entertained (and busy) at all times.

I have co-authored the following works:

Hardesty, J. L., Oswald, R. F., Khaw, L., & Fonseca, C. (in press). Lesbian/bisexual mothers and intimate partner violence: Help-seeking in the context of social and legal vulnerability. Violence Against Women.

Khaw, L., & Hardesty, J. L. (2009). Leaving an abusive partner: Exploring boundary ambiguity using the Stages of Change Model. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 1(1), 38-53.

Hardesty, J. L., Khaw, L., Chung, G. H., & Martin, J. M. (2008). Coparenting relationships after divorce: Variations by type of marital violence and fathers' role differentiation. Family Relations, 57(4), 479-491.

Hardesty, J. L., Oswald, R. F., Khaw, L., Chung, G. H., & Fonseca, C. (2008). Lesbian mothering in the context of intimate partner violence. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 12(2/3), 188-207.

Khaw, L., & Hardesty, J. L. (2007). Theorizing the process of leaving: Turning points and trajectories in the Stages of Change Model. Family Relations, 56(4), 413-425.


Here are some news releases about popular media stories featuring my research:

Lyndal Khaw interviewed on Chicago Public Radio
On August 14th, Chicago Public Radio aired an interview with Lyndal Khaw about her research on role ambiguity and the process of leaving domestic violence. Click here to listen to the interview.

Jennifer Hardesty and Lyndal Khaw featured in CNN story
Jennifer Hardesty and Lyndal Khaw's research on ending abusive relationships is featured in a CNN story by Patty Lane: "Leaving abuse can be lengthy, risky process" A simillar story has also appeared in Medical News Today.