Alumna becomes ASU’s first CFLE graduate

When Laura Foster graduated with a degree in family and human development from Arizona State University in August 2024, it was both life-changing for her and notable for the school, as she was ASU’s first student to graduate from the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) program.

Now, a few months later, she has finalized her credential through the National Council on Family Relations, giving her a nationally recognized certification.

The CFLE program, introduced at ASU last year, equips students with the tools to support families through teaching, advocacy and community engagement. It allows students to apply for CFLE certification without taking the national exam, as long as they complete the required coursework. Ultimately, it’s designed to fast-track graduates into careers such as family education, nonprofit work and community outreach.

For Foster, that’s exactly what it did.

A last-minute pursuit that ended up pivotal

Foster discovered the certification late in her academic career but knew immediately that it aligned with her goals as an advocate for families and children.

“As I learned more about the CFLE certification, it was right up my alley with learning about families, learning about kids, just engagement throughout the lifespan,” she says. “That’s something I’ve always wanted to do in my career...so I knew this was something that I really wanted to do to push me into my career with more experience.”

Despite learning about the program just two semesters before graduation, Foster says her advisors and CFLE director Dan Erickson made it easy to add the new courses.

“It was a flawless process,” Foster says. “Any time I had a question, needed help, had to send an email, I heard back very quickly from him (Erickson). He was very supportive and helpful with finding substitute courses and working with my advisors, so I never felt alone in the process. I was very impressed at the support I had.”

Foster also credits OGL 484, the internship course required for the CFLE program, as one of the most influential parts of her experience. Her internship involved shadowing professional music therapists as a music therapist intern, where she helped diverse groups including single mothers and local families.

She says she had no idea how impactful that course was going to be, as it gave her a better understanding of what family life education can look like and how it directly benefits the community.

Starting a new chapter

Since graduating, Foster has already begun putting her education and certification into action by launching an early childhood learning center, Foundations: Early Learning & Childcare, in her town. She plans to integrate the principles she learned through the CFLE program into the center’s curriculum and outreach efforts.

“I really felt I had a backbone in family life education when I graduated with this certification,” Foster says. “Because I was studying family and human development, it was a perfect launch, and I felt like the certification was icing on the cake for me.”

Looking ahead, Foster plans to continue exploring career paths that focus on families, including a possible return to school to become a family therapist—an interest she discovered through the CFLE coursework.

“I wouldn’t have been able to figure out (those passions) without getting that certification,” she says. “I feel grounded and supported going into a career that I didn’t have as much knowledge about before.”

Students studying family and human development are highly encouraged to pursue the Certified Family Life Educator credential. Interested students can complete the CFLE form to learn more and begin the process.