91·çÃùÄñ³ª

Pamela Payne, Ph.D., CFLE

Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science
Photo of Pamela Payne

Summary

Dr. Pamela Payne came to the faculty at 91·çÃùÄñ³ª from Ogden, Utah in 2018. Dr. Payne is an Associate Professor in Human Development Family Science & Counseling and Extension. After earning a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Arizona in 2001, she went on to receive a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Pepperdine University. While working on her master’s degree, she worked in probation with juvenile male felons in Southern California where she became fascinated by the impact of family on future behavior. Following completion of her master’s degree, she pursued a Ph.D. in Family & Consumer Sciences from the University of Arizona. After the completion of her dissertation focused on the integration and utilization of spiritual and religious beliefs in marital formation, she worked in Extension at the University of Arizona before joining the faculty at Weber State University in 2012.

Dr. Payne's research interests are broadly defined as much of her work focuses on the needs of the community. She has done research on various aspects of romantic relationships (e.g., sexuality, communication, relationship formation and maintenance), parenting (e.g., social support, parenting behaviors), youth (e.g., school achievement & success) and areas of community engagement and extension. Dr. Payne has published in the Journal of Extension, Journal of Sex Research, Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, Family Relations, Journal of Marriage and Family Review, Frontiers in Public Health and others.

Dr. Payne loves to teach college courses. She has taught over 75 sections of 20 different courses at multiple universities. She has taught courses on parenting, romantic relationships, professional development (e.g., job searching, resume, cover letters, interviewing), internship/practicum/field experience, life-span development, human sexuality, understanding military families, among others. She loves getting to know students, helping them meet their goals and find their passions in working with families. 

Dr. Payne is excited to be part of the Wolfpack working with students, faculty, and the community in her roles in HDFSC and Extension! Her current projects include work Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence, Judicial & Advocate Education, human sexuality and belief development and other areas where Extension and HDFS intersect.

Academic positions

 91·çÃùÄñ³ª: 2023 - Present

  • Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Science
  • Associate Professor, Extension
  • Affiliated Faculty in Social Psychology Interdisciplinary program

 91·çÃùÄñ³ª: 2018-2023

  • Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
  • Assistant Professor, Extension
  • Affiliated Faculty in Social Psychology Interdisciplinary program

Weber State University: 2012–2018

  • Assistant Professor, Child and Family Studies

University of Arizona: 2011-2012

  • Lecturer and Program Coordinator for Family and Consumer Sciences

University of Arizona: 2011-2012

  • Interim Program Coordinator for Veteran Education and Transition Services (VETS), Student Affairs

University of Arizona: 2010–2011

  • Research and Program Specialist, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences/Cooperative Extension

Programmatic & Research Interests

(Undergraduate student italicized, ** Master students, *** Doctoral student coauthors) 

Intimate Partner Violence

Current Funding

$225,000 (In Review): 2025-2028

  • UnitedHealthcare Health Plan Nevada Medicaid Community Investment Request Form. support 91·çÃùÄñ³ª Extension’s Hope for Family Resilience Program. PI: Pamela B. Payne. Co-PI: Elizabeth Ornelas.

$23, 823.25 (In Review)

  • Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) Fiscal Year 2024 Justice for Families Program. Training Subcontract for annual training on domestic violence.

Prior Funding

$173,208.98 (AWD: 2021-VAWA-57): 2021-2022

  • Attorney General Ford Services-Training-Officers-Prosecutor (STOP) and Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) grant for High-Risk Team to Combat Domestic Violence.
  • Funding period 7/1/2021-12/31/2022.

No-Cost Contracts

Nevada Department of Health & Human Services: 2020-2027

  • Contracted evaluator overseeing Domestic Violence Batterer’s training programs approved by the state of NV.
  • Contract is set for four years from approval and renewable at the conclusion.

Publications

  • Payne, P.B. & Thomas, C. (2025). . NCFR Family Focus Spring 2025 Issue. 
  • Lopez, C.**, Marshowsky, A.C.***, & Payne, P.B. (2024). . NCFR CFLE Report, Summer (August) 2024.
  • Payne, P. B., & Baker-Tingey, J. (2024). .Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 12(1), 12. DOI.
  • Lopez, C.**, Marshowsky, A.C.***, & Payne, P.B. (2024). NCFR CFLE Report, Summer (August) 2024.
  • Payne, P. B., & Baker-Tingey, J. (2024). Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 12(1), 12.
  • Lopez, C.**, Shakaryan, L.***, Marshowsky, A.***, Ornelas, E., Thomas. C. & Payne, P.B. (2024).  NCFR CFLE Focus, Spring Issue Volume 37, Issue 2.

Curriculum-Training

Payne, P.B. (in review). Hope Advocate Training (H.A.T.): 40-hour Basic Advocate Training. 15 Modules, 40 hours of curriculum. Developed in 2023. Reviewed by Advisory Board. Peer-reviewed by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

  • >Approved for Continuing Education Units
    • National Council Family Relations (NCFR)
    • Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers
    • Nevada State Board of Nursing
    • Peace Officer’s Standards and Training (POST)
    • National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA)
    • National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP)
    • Nevada State Teachers
  • 2024 Domestic Violence Training Program of the Year, Hope Family Resilience Team. Purple Ribbon award given by DomesticShelters.org.

Invited Talks and Presentations

  • Payne, P.B., Ornelas, E., & Storr, M. (2025, September). Healing Together: Integrating Domestic Violence Advocacy into Recovery Programs. Paper to be presented at the Nevada Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Annual Conference, Reno, Nevada.
  • Payne, P.B. & Ornelas, E. (May 4-6, 2025). Nevada Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Force Member Panel at the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Conference, Elko, NV, United States.
  • Ornelas, E. & Payne, P.B. (May 4-6, 2025). Domestic Violence Advocate Training: Understanding Indigenous populations unique experiences. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Conference, Elko, NV, United States.
  • Marshowsky, A.C.***, Lopez, C., Shakaryan, L.***, & Payne, P.B. (2024, November). The state of domestic violence in Nevada: How did we get here? In a symposium, Understanding the Role of Family Life Education in Nevada Domestic Violence Response: Hope Advocate Training as a Model, chaired by Payne, P.B., presented at National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, Bellevue, WA. United States.
  • Shakaryan, L.***, Marshowsky, A.C.***, Lopez, C., & Payne, P.B. (2024, November) Hope Advocacy Training: An evidence-based training using principles of Family Life Education. In a symposium, Understanding the Role of Family Life Education in Nevada Domestic Violence Response: Hope Advocate Training as a Model, chaired by Payne, P.B., presented at National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, Bellevue, WA. United States.
  • Lopez, C., Shakaryan, L.***, Marshowsky, A.C.***, & Payne, P.B (2024, November). Hope Advocacy Training: A First look at outcomes. In a symposium, Understanding the Role of Family Life Education in Nevada Domestic Violence Response: Hope Advocate Training as a Model, Chaired by Payne, P.B., presented at National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, Bellevue, WA. United States.
  • Payne, P.B., & Thomas, C. (2024, September). Training the Helpers on a Foundation of HOPE: Using Family Science as a Foundation for Advocate Education. Workshop for the Nevada Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. Henderson, Nevada, United States.
  • Payne, P.B. (June 26, 2024). Domestic Violence Training for TANF trainees. Nevada Public Health Foundation Conference, Tuscany Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
  • Payne, P.B. (2024, June). Training the Helpers on a Foundation of HOPE: Using Family Science as a Foundation for Advocate Education. Paper presentation for Teaching Family Science Annual Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States.
  • Payne, P.B. (January 2024). Domestic Violence Advocate Training and Needs. Judicial education 8th District Court Judges. Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, United States.
  • Ornelas, E., Thomas, D.C., Stockett, F., & Payne, P.B. (November 2023). Domestic Violence in Older Adults: Interventions for all Generations. Presented at the UNLV|UNR Disparities in Marginal Older Adult Populations Conference. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
  • Payne, P.B. (October 2023). Podcast Recorded for Nevada Supreme Court podcast “I’ll Allow it”. 
  • Payne, P.B. (September 2023). Domestic Violence in Nevada Panel with Elizabeth Ortenberger, Nicole Reilly, & Elizabeth Abdur-Raheem. UX4 Justice Speaker Panel. University of Arizona Innovation for Justice.

Committee Service

  • 2023 – Present: Committee on Human Trafficking, Voting Member, for the Attorney General Aaron Ford
  • 2022 - Present: Fatality Review Subcommittee for the Attorney General Aaron Ford
  • 2022 – Present: Committee on Domestic Violence, Voting Member, for the Attorney General Aaron Ford
  • 2022 - Present: Services and Training Subcommittee for the Attorney General Aaron Ford

Press and Media

Payne, P.B., & Ornelas, E. (2025, April 14), Understanding Sexual Assault: Myth vs. Facts, 91·çÃùÄñ³ª, Ask the Professor Blog.

Payne, P.B. (2025, January 21). How can you prevent human trafficking, 91·çÃùÄñ³ª, Ask the Professor Blog.

Payne, P.B. (2024, October 21). Love or Abuse: Words and Actions Matter,91·çÃùÄñ³ª, Nevada Today: Nsights.

Payne, P.B.(2024, October). How Can We Break the Cycle of Domestic Violence, 91·çÃùÄñ³ª, Ask the Professor Blog.

Payne, P. and Thomas, C. 2024, , 91·çÃùÄñ³ª, Ask the Professor Blogs.

Ornelas, E., Payne, P.B., & Thomas, C. (2024, Summer).

Thomas, C., Ornelas, E., Stockett, F., & Payne, P.B. (2024, Spring).  

Doyle, R. (2024, March 5). , Wes Duncan and police chief Chris Crawford announce the use of dangerous assessment for law-enforcement form to be utilized by Sparks police and prosecutors within city of Sparks for domestic violence cases.  

Payne, P.B. (2024, February 16). Hope advocate, training video interview. Channel 4 news Reno, NV.

Payne, P.B. (2024, February 15). Hope advocate training audio interview. KKOH radio, Reno/Sparks, NV.

Woodbury, J., Baker-Tingey, J., Holmes, J., & Payne, P.B. (2024, January). Breaking the Cycle: Heart & Hope. 91·çÃùÄñ³ª. , Extension Foundation 2022-2023 Yearbook.

Payne, P.B., (October 22, 2023. Shedding Light on Domestic Violence: A Crucial conversation for the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª Community. Nevada Today.

Payne, P.B. (October 2023). . Podcast Recorded for Nevada Supreme Court podcast “I’ll Allow it”

Romantic Relationships

General Relationship Publications

Lopez, C.*** & Payne, P.B.^ (2025). . Journal of Religious Education,73(1).

Mitchell, S.N., Mortensen, J., & Payne, P.B. (2023). . Family Focus: Families in a Post-Pandemic Era, NCFR Publication.

Payne, P.B., Mitchell, S.N., Lopez, C.**, DeCount, T., Shrout, M.R., Russell, K., Weigel, D., Evans, W., & Weiser, D. (2023). Family Relations.

Morgan, P., Hubler, D.S., Payne, P.B., Pomeroy, C., Gregg, D., & Homer, M. (2016). My partner’s media use: A qualitative study exploring perceptions of problems with a partner’s media use. Marriage & Family Review.

Ridley, C.A., Ogolsky, B.G., Payne, P.B., Totenhagen, C.J., & Cate, R.M. (2008). Sexual expression: It’s emotional context in heterosexual, gay, and lesbian couples. The Journal of Sex Research, 45, 305-314.

Utah Marriage Celebration

Payne, P.B., Brower, N., & Jewkes, M. (2025). . Transforming Communities,1(1).

Payne, P. B., & Brower, N. (2024).  Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 12(1), 9. 

Payne, P.B., Brower, N., & Jewkes, M. (2019). Expanding and replicating a Marriage Celebration: Impacts of short-duration Relationship Marriage Education events. The National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences Journal, 14, 91-109. 

Brower, N., Payne, P.B., & Simmons, M. (2019). Measuring the effectiveness of a multi-year multi-county marriage celebration: Qualitative findings. Journal of Marriage and Family Review, 55 (7), 601-618.

Payne, P.B., Brower, N., & Lefthand, M., (2019). Outcomes of a multi-year multi-county marriage celebration. Journal of Extension, 57(1), Article 1RIB9

Brower, N. & Payne, P.B. (2018). Lessons Learned from Organizing a Multi-County Marriage Celebration. Journal of the Human Sciences and Extension, 6 (1).

Evaluation and Coaching

Current Funding

$325,000: 2019- Present

  • Children Youth and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Professional Development & Technical Assistance (PDTA) Coaching Team Member.
  • Supervise and advise 7 CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects (SCP) grantees.
  • Sub-contract awardee for 35-45% of annual contract.
  • Primary PI: Daniel F. Perkins & Lynne Borden

$160,000 annually ($800,000 total): 2023-2028

USDA-NIFA Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Communities Project (SCP). Enriching Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Kids and Families.

PI: YaeBin Kim

Evaluator: Pamela B. Payne

Prior Funding

$20,000: 2020-2022

Anthem Blue Cross. Youth Horticulture Education Program, Career-Readiness.

Primary PI: Pamela B. Payne and Tricia Braxton-Perry.

$50,000 (Award #2020-01938): 2020-2022 

United States Department of Agriculture & National Institute of Food and Agriculture Secondary-Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA).

Primary PI: Pamela B. Payne, Co-PI’s: Angela O’Callaghan & Tricia Braxton-Perry. Supporting Youth Horticulture Education Programs in Nevada.

Funding period 10/1/2019 – 9/30/2022.

Publications

Ealy, P.L., Tyler-Mackey, C., Ashurst, K., Blue-Terry, M., Cano-Guin, A, Derienfield, C., Grant, S., Harmon, D., Payne, P.B., Wells-Marshall, J., & Perkins, D.F. (2024). , Frontiers in Public Health, 12.

Payne, P.B. & McDonald, D. (2012). Using Common Evaluation Instruments across Multi- State Community Programs: A Pilot Study. Journal of Extension [On-line], 50, (4). Article RIB4.

Payne, P.B., & McDonald, D.A. (2014). The importance of understanding dosage when evaluating parenting programs: Lessons from a pilot study. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 2 (2).

Payne, P.B. & McDonald, D. (2015). Common evaluation tools across Multi-state programs: A study of parenting education and youth engagement programs in children, youth and families at-risk. Journal of Extension [On-line], 53 (3). Article 3FEA5.

Invited Talks and Presentations

Payne, P.B. (May 8, 2025). Community Partners and Sustainability Webinar Hosted USDA-NIFA Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Professional Development, & Technical, Assistance (PDTA).

Tyler-Mackey, C., Barnes, T., & Payne, P.B. (June 12, 2024). Tips and tricks to market programs. Invited presentation at CYFAR Professional Development Event, Minneapolis, MN, United States.

Payne, P.B. (October 2023). Children, Youth and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Funding and Professional Development Technical Assistance (PDTA). First Annual Land Grant Consortium Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Payne, P.B. (May 2023). Turning Puberty into Education, Research, and Policy: An Example of Amplifying Youth Voices. Presented at the Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Professional Development Event, Phoenix, AZ, United States.

Education

Prior Funding

$10,000: 2022-2023

Washoe County School District

Northwest Regional Professional Development Program Evaluator. Support and collaborate with NW education professionals to disseminate their work. Compile information for report, conduct training, write report. PI: Pamela B. Payne

$10,000: 2021-2022

Washoe County School District

Northwest Regional Professional Development Program Evaluator. Support and collaborate with NW education professionals to disseminate their work. Compile information for report, conduct training, write report. PI: Pamela B. Payne

Publications

Willis-Hepp, B., DiGregorio, N., Grieving, J.***, Dutton, C., & Payne, P.B. (Accepted 2024). What Are Students Reading? An Exploratory Study of Bookstore Acquisitions in Introductory Family Science Courses. Marriage & Family Review: Special Issue “The Discipline of Family Science”

Mitchell, S. N. & Payne, P. B. (2023). . In S. Finley, P. Correll, C. Pearman, & S. Huffman (Eds.),Empowering Students Through Multilingual and Content Discourse(pp. 244-259). IGI Global.

Payne, P.B., Braxton-Perry, T., Whitelsey, L., Walton, C., & O’Callaghan, A. (In Review) Transitioning Youth Gardening Programs to Online Formats and Evaluations: Lessons Learned as a Result of COVID-19. Journal of Extension

Payne, P.B. (2022). Preparing Family Science professionals: A professional development assignment cluster. Family Science Review: Special Issue Assessment, 25 (2). 2-18.

Williams, M. & Payne, P.B. (2021). Engaging undergraduates in
co-curricular community-based research: Strategies for success. Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education, 13 (3), 1-10.

Payne, P.B., & Hubler, D.S. (2017) Learning beyond the Classroom: Engaging Family Science Students in Community-Based Learning using Speed Networking. Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences, 109 (2).

Taylor, A.R., Payne, P.B., & Arizaga-Marron, A. (2015) Family Science as a Pathway to higher education attainment for rural, Latina/o students: Lessons from a pilot distance degree program. Family Science Review, 20 (2).

Schvaneveldt, P.L., Payne, P.B., Hubler, D., & Merrill, C.D. (2013). Undergraduate Competencies in Family Science: An Exploratory Study, Family Science Review, 18 (2).

Formal 91·çÃùÄñ³ª Courses

HDFS 436/636 Family Interactions

HDFS 401/601/701 Independent Research

HDFS 400 Military Families

HDFS 201 Human Development

Awards

2024 Domestic Violence Training Program of the Year, Hope Family Resilience Team. Purple Ribbon award given by DomesticShelters.org

2024 1st Place Western Region, Utah Marriage Celebration, National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Tucson, AZ.

2024 Best of State – Utah; Hidden Gems Community Education Program, Collaboration with Utah State Extension, Naomi Brower

2024 University of Nevada Reno College of Education and Human Development Outreach Award winner, 91·çÃùÄñ³ª

2022 University of Nevada Reno Extension “Award of Excellence” Academic Faculty Award winner, 91·çÃùÄñ³ª

2020 Judith A. Bible Teaching Award, 91·çÃùÄñ³ª College of Education Nominee

2020 Recipient John & Doris Norton School of Family & Consumer Sciences Council of Alumni and Friends Emerging Professional Award. The University of Arizona, Tucson.

2019 Judith A. Bible Teaching Award, University of Nevada Reno College of Education Nominee

Selected Service

College of Education and Human Development 

2020 – 2023: Awards and Recognition Committee Chair

2018 – Present: Awards and Recognition Committee Member

College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources/Cooperative Extension

2021: Extension Annual Conference Breakout Subcommittee

2020–Present: Extension Annual Conference Committee

University committees

2022-2023: Status of Women Committee

2022–2023: Work, Life, Family Committee

2020–Present: Sexual Assault Hearing Board

2019–2021: Service-Learning Advisory Committee

2019–Present: Queer & LGBT Advocacy Board (QLAB) Committee Member

Community and State Service

2022 - 2023: Policy Subcommittee member, Strategic Leadership Team Member,

2022 - 2023: Strategic Leadership Team Member,

2022 – Present: Women’s Sustainable Recovery Coalition, Member

2021: Interview Panel for Washoe County School District (WCSD) Sexuality, Health, and Responsibility Education (SHARE) Advisory Board: Parent Members

2021: Reviewer for Attorney General Ford STOP grant proposals

2019: Interview Panel for Washoe County School District (WCSD) Sexuality, Health, and Responsibility Education (SHARE) Advisory Board: Parent & Community Health Members

National Council on Family Relations

2027-2029: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) President to the Board of Directors

2025-2027: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) President-Elect to the Board of Directors

2022-2025: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Religion, Spirituality & Family Life Section Past Chair. Through November 2025.

2023: Invited Reviewer, Advancing Family Science Section Science of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Award Committee.

2023: Theory, Construction, Research & Methodology (TCRM) Workshop Invited Discussant.

2019 - 2022: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Religion, Spirituality & Family Life Section Chair

2022: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Religion, Spirituality & Family Life Program Planning Committee

2021: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Religion, Spirituality & Family Life Program Planning Committee

2020: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Religion, Spirituality & Family Life Program Planning Committee

2017 - 2019: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Religion, Spirituality & Family Life Section Chair Elect

2017: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) April Program Committee Meeting (April 2017) Minneapolis, MN.

2017 – 2019: National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Religion, Spirituality & Family Life Section Executive Committee Member

2016 – 2019: National Council on Family Relations CFLE Exam Committee Member (3-year renewable term)

Family Science Association 

2017–2019: Past President, Family Science Association

2015–2017: President, Family Science Association

Selected Journal, Conference, Book, and Foundation Reviewing Service

2024–Present: Reviewer, Family Transitions

2023–Present: Reviewer, Journal of Family Violence

2022-Present: Reviewer, Family Relations

2016-Present: Reviewer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Reviewer for Health Policy Research Scholars program, Princeton, NJ

2021–Present: Editorial Board, Marriage and Family Review

2020–Present: Reviewer, Journal of Youth Development

2018-Present: Reviewer, Psychology and Sexuality

2017–Present: Reviewer, Journal of Child and Family Studies

2017–Present: Reviewer, International Quarterly of Community Health Education

2017–Present: Reviewer, Journal of Adult Development

2016–Present: Reviewer, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships