Ilse DeKoeyer

Dr. Ilse DeKoeyer came to the University of Utah to do research into early parent-child relationships, emotional development, and the development of self-awareness. For more than two decades, she has taught a variety of classes in the Psychology Department, including Research Methods, General Psychology, Internships, and Developmental Psychology across the lifespan (mostly Development in Infancy and Adult Development and Aging). In 2015, she was awarded the Superior Teaching Award of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (CSBS).

Since the early 2000s, Dr. DeKoeyer is a founding Board member and Past President of the Utah Association for Infant Mental Health (UAIMH). She is still part of the Events and Professional Development committees at UAIMH and has helped co-organize the annual UAIMH Conference. Dr. DeKoeyer has been a fervent advocate for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) in Utah, both inside of the University and in the state of Utah. Just before the pandemic, she was part of the team that created the IECMH Certificate program at CSBS, led by Dr. Elisabeth Conradt. She is currently Co-Director of this Certificate program with Dr. Marissa Diener at the Family and Consumer Studies (FCS) department. She is also teaching the Capstone class for the Certificate. She enjoys making connections between students and early childhood organizations in the community.

Dr. DeKoeyer has been active in the Early Childhood community in Utah for several decades. She has done many presentations and trainings for professionals, and has been a part of countless committees, including Early Childhood Utah. Since 2015, she has worked part time as a Child Development Specialist with Help Me Grow Utah (HMGU). In 2023, she started a full-time position there as Early Relational Health Specialist. HMGU is a free parenting information and resource line that offers parenting support, child development information, developmental screening for young children, and connection to resources in the entire state of Utah. It is housed in United Way of Utah County.

Recently, Dr. DeKoeyer has also begun teaching Creative Movement and Mindfulness classes in the community, such as for the Creative Aging program at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. She loves dance, somatic practices, mindfulness, and Zen meditation, as well as her cats, family, friends, and being in nature!