Rachel M. Okamoto
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
PhD Student, Graduate Research Assistant
First year PhD student in the Human Development and Family Sciences Program
Barrow Hall
115 DW Brooks Dr.
Athens, GA 30602
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.A. | Marriage, Family, and Human Development | Brigham Young University | 2023 |
| B.S. | Elementary Education | Brigham Young University | 2021 |
Prior Professional Positions
| Organization | Title | Years of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University | Graduate Research Assistant | 2021-2023 |
Awards
| Award Name | Awarded By | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| J. William Fanning Graduate Fellowship | University of Georgia | 2025-2026 |
| Elizabeth T. Sheerer Graduate Scholarship | University of Georgia | 2025-2026 |
| Iris Price Dover Scholarship | College of Family and Consumer Science | 2025-2026 |
| Student Proposal Award Winner | National Council on Family Relations | 2024 |
| Carl and Pat Swearingen Fellowship | University of Georgia | 2023-2024 |
| 3 Minute Thesis University Finalist | Brigham Young University | 2023 |
| Merlin and Edna Sant Endowed Scholarship | Brigham Young University | 2021-2023 |
Editorial Appointments
| Position | Name of Journal | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Reviewer | Journal of Financial and Economic Issues | 2022-Present |
| Reviewer | Marriage and Family Review | 2024-Present |
Service
| Organization | Title | Year(s) | Service Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFS Graduate Student Organization | Vice President | 2024-2025 | Leadership |
| HDFS Graduate Student Organization | Evaluation Coordinator | 2023-Present | Leadership |
Advisory Committee
Major Advisor - Dr. Catherine Walker O'Neal
Committee Members - Dr. Noel Card & Dr. Kristy Archuleta
Current Research
My research mainly focuses on the interaction of finances with family and couple processes. Specifically, I look at family and individual transitions as they are connected with financial principles and wellbeing outcomes for individuals, couples, and families. Transition areas I focus on are financial socialization during childhood, early stages of romantic relationships, and emerging adults transition to financial independence.
Publications
Lucier-Greer, M., Saxey, M. T., Okamoto, R., & O’Neal, C.W. (in press). Defining program success: Facilitators’ perceptions of desired military financial education outcomes. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health.
Okamoto, R. M., LeBaron-Black, A. B., Hill, E. J., O’Neal, C. W., Leavitt, C., & Wikle, J. (2025). Know better, do better?: parent financial socialization’s indirect association with couple financial communication through financial self-efficacy. Journal of Financial Therapy.
Suxo-Sanchez, S. C., LeBaron-Black, A. B., Yorgason, J. B., Okamoto, R. M., Holmes, E. K., & James, S. L. (2025). Combating crisis: Buffers between financial stress and relationship satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Family Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001365
Peterson, C., O’Neal, C. W., & Okamoto, R. M. (2024). Finances and fights: How military members’ financial attitudes and behaviors are linked to romantic relationship processes and outcomes. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning.
O’Neal, C. W., Lucier-Greer, M., & Okamoto, R. M. (2024). Understanding the financial capabilities of service members through the lens of the family financial socialization theory. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning.
LeBaron-Black, A. B., Saxey, M. T., Okamoto, R. M., Leonhardt, N. D., Rogers, A. A., & Curran, M. A. (2024). Nine versions of the parent financial socialization scale: Full, short, and minimal versions for emerging adults, adolescents, and parents. Journal of Family and Economic Issues.
Okamoto, R. M., Saxey, M. T., Wikle, J. S., & LeBaron-Black, A. B. (2023). Confident Commitment: Financial Self-Efficacy’s Indirect Association with Romantic Relationship Flourishing Through Financial Behaviors. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 1-10.
LeBaron-Black, A. B., Yorgason, J. B., Curran, M. A., Saxey, M. T., & Okamoto, R. M. (2022). The ABC-X’s of Stress among US Emerging Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Relationship Quality, Financial Distress, and Mental Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13125.
LeBaron-Black, A. B., Li, X., Okamoto, R. M., Saxey, M. T., & Driggs, T. M. (2022). Finances and Fate: Parent Financial Socialization, Locus of Control, and Mental Health in Emerging Adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 10(6), 1484-1496.