The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) proudly announces Min Xu, Ph.D., LMFT, AAMFT-Approved Supervisor, as the 2024 recipient of the Jessie Bernard Outstanding Research Proposal from a Feminist Perspective Award, which recognizes a graduate student or new professional who has demonstrated excellence in research and potential contribution to feminist scholarship. Dr. Xu's research proposal is entitled "Gendered Emotional Work in Romantic Relationships."

Dr. Xu is an assistant professor in the marital and family therapy program at the University of San Diego. Dr. Xu’s scholarship primarily focuses on emotion regulation, particularly within romantic relationships. Her work also emphasizes predictors, mechanisms of change, and outcomes in couple therapy, including attachment and family-of-origin experiences. In addition to her research, Dr. Xu is dedicated to teaching and mentoring students in marriage and family therapy, with a particular focus on fostering diversity and promoting evidence-based practices.

Dr. Xu's previous work has been published in journals such as Family Process and Contemporary Family Therapy. Dr. Xu recently joined NCFR and has attended NCFR's annual conferences.

This award is presented in memory of Jessie Bernard, former NCFR Board Member and pioneer in the field of feminist family studies. Jessie Bernard declared herself a feminist in 1970 and is known for her celebrated description of "his" and "her" marriages. She was a board member of the American Sociological Association, the Groves Conference on Marriage and Family, and NCFR. 

Dr. Xu will be recognized for her achievements during a plenary at the 2024 NCFR Annual Conference. 

The National Council on Family Relations is the premier professional association for the multidisciplinary understanding of families. NCFR has a membership of nearly 3,000 family researchers, practitioners and educators. For more information on the National Council on Family Relations or its scholarly publications, visit the NCFR website at ncfr.org.