Axton Betz-Hamilton

Education

Ph.D., Iowa State University, Human Development and Family Studies
M.S., Kansas State University, Personal Financial Planning
M.S., Purdue University, Consumer Sciences and Retailing
B.S., Purdue University, Agricultural Economics

Graduate Certificates:
Advanced Financial Planning, Kansas State University
Financial Therapy, Kansas State University
Advanced Statistical Modeling, University of Colorado-Denver
Family Financial Planning, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
College Teaching, Iowa State University

Academic Interests

Familial identity theft
Financial exploitation of older adults by family members
Familiar identity theft
Trauma

Expertise

Financial Fraud

Academic Responsibilities

Teaching responsibilities include:
Foundations in Financial Management (CA 345)
Family Financial Management I (CA 350)
Financial Counseling and Debt Management (CA 375)
Family Financial Management II (CA 450)
Financial Counseling Lab (CA 460)
Seminar in Communication in Financial Planning (CA 517)

Committee Activities

President, Housing Education and Research Association
Associate Editor for Book Reviews and Profiles, Journal of Financial Therapy
Symposium Proceedings Editor, Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education

Awards and Honors

South Dakota Humanities Council Scholar, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Excellence in Collaboration Award, 2nd place (National), 2023
National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Housing Outreach Award, 2nd place (National), 2023
SDSU College of Education and Human Sciences Outstanding Researcher, 2022-2023
Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime, 2020
South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Outstanding Professional Award, 2019
Illinois Consumer Education Association, Gladys Bahr Award, 2018

Grants

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2022). Exploring familial identity theft victimization Through victim stories and case-related documents. South Dakota Humanities Council. ($1,238.00).

Betz-Hamilton, A., & Croymans, S. (2022). South Dakota-Minnesota healthy homes. National Healthy Homes Partnership Subgrant. ($17,998.00).

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2021). South Dakota healthy homes. National Healthy Homes Partnership Subgrant. ($13,536.00).

Vincenti, V., Betz-Hamilton, A., & Chapman, A. (2018-2021). Understanding elder family financial exploitation (EFFE): Identifying risk and protective factors. Kappa Omicron Nu New Initiatives Grant. ($9,000.00).

Vincenti, V. B., & Betz-Hamilton, A. E. (2018). Elder family financial exploitation: risk and protective factors within families. Phi Upsilon Omicron Alumni Research Grant. ($2,500.00).

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2018). Exploration of the risk and protective factors associated with elder family financial exploitation (EFFE). South Dakota State University Foundation Women and Giving Grant. ($1,200.00).

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2017). Understanding the experiences of familial identity theft: A pilot study. South Dakota State University Scholarly Excellence Funds. ($4,084.08).

Professional Memberships

Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education
Financial Planning Association
Financial Therapy Association
Housing Education and Research Association
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences

Work Experience

Dr. Betz-Hamilton's previous work experience includes faculty appointments at Eastern Illinois University, University of Wyoming, and Iowa Central Community College. She also has experience as a financial counselor, serving military members and their families.

Creative Activities

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2019). The less people know about us: A mystery of betrayal, family secrets, and stolen identity. New York, NY: Grand Central Publishing.

Area(s) of Research

Familial identity theft
Financial abuse of older adults by family members
Housing education

Applications of Research

Selected Peer Reviewed Publications

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2022). Student relationships in hybrid consumer affairs courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 114 (4), 54-57. https://doi.org/10.14307/JFCS114.4.54

Green, L., Betz-Hamilton, A., Vasquez, K., Lee, S. J., Albright, B. L., Cantrell, R., Peek, G., & Carswell, A.T. (2022). Home modification for older adults aging in place: Evidence from the American Housing Survey. Journal of Aging and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2022.2140466

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2022). A comparison of the financial, emotional, and physical consequences of identity theft victimization among familial and non-familial victims. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 33 (2), 217-227. https://www.doi.org/10.1891/JFCP-2021-0014

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2022). Reporting behaviors of familiar identity theft victims: An empirical test of Black’s Theory of Law. Journal of Financial Crime, 30 (4), 1055-1065. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-04-2022-0085

Betz-Hamilton, A. E., Stum, M. S., & Chan, A. C. Y.* (2022). Elder family financial exploitation offenders: Examining the complexities of problematic behaviors. Victims and Offenders, 18 (5), 943-960. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2022.2040068

Betz-Hamilton, A., & *Rich, J. (2021). Preventing financial exploitation of older adults in South Dakota by family members: A qualitative pilot study exploring the role of financial powers of attorney. Journal of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, 16, 15-20. https://neafcs.memberclicks.net/assets/documents/journal/2021-jneafcs/Preventing%20Financial%20Exploitation%20of%20Older%20Adults%20in%20SD.pdf

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2021). Student perceptions of learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: An examination of hybrid, in-person, and online Consumer Affairs courses. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences Education, 38 (1), 13-23.

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2020). Understanding the experiences of familiar identity theft victims: A pilot study. Journal of Financial Therapy, 11 (1). http://doi.org/10.4148/1944-9771.1237

Betz-Hamilton, A. E. (2020). A phenomenological study on parental perpetrators of child identity theft. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 31(2), 219-228. http://doi.org/10.1891/JFCP-19-00001

Betz-Hamilton, A. E., Brooks, L., & O’Neill, B. (2019). Savings, investments, emergency funds, and cash flow: Are they related to positive health behaviors? Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 111(3), 31-37. http://doi.org/10.14307/JFCS111.3.31

Betz-Hamilton, A.E., & Vincenti, V. B. (2018). Risk factors within families associated with elder financial exploitation (EFE) by relatives with powers of attorney (POA). Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 110(1), 19-27. http://doi.org/10.14307/JFCS110.1.19

Selected Conference Proceedings and Refereed Abstracts

Betz-Hamilton, A., & Donovan, C. (2023, November). A structural equation modeling approach to understanding emotional and physical consequences of familiar identity theft victimization. Proceedings of the 2023 Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education Symposium.

Betz-Hamilton, A., & Croymans, S. (2023, October). The impact of a webinar on housing and healthy homes. Proceedings of the 2023 Housing Education and Research Association conference.

Albright, B., Betz-Hamilton, A., Green, L., McAlister, D., Lee, S-J., Cantrell, R., Vasquez, K., Mimura, Y., Peek, G., & Carswell, A. (2023, October). Predictors of home modifications for older adults changing over time using a two-period model. Proceedings of the 2023 Housing Education and Research Association conference.

Jussel, J.*, & Betz-Hamilton, A. (2022, November). Educational strategies for identifying and addressing financial exploitation perpetrated by financial planners. Proceedings of the 2022 Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education Symposium.

Fisher-McLean, K., Goldschmidt, M., Turner, P., Allen, K., Welch, M., Keel, M., Cantrell, R., Betz-Hamilton, A., Reichel C., Buys, R., Peek, G., McCaulley, G., & Kirby, S. (2022, October). Evaluating the impacts of the National Healthy Homes Partnership (HHP). Proceedings of the 2022 Housing Education and Research Education Association conference.

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2021, November). Trauma-informed tools you can use to assist victims of familial identity theft. Proceedings of the 2021 Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education Symposium.

Betz-Hamilton, A., Stum, M., & Chan, A.* (2021, November). Elder family financial exploitation: Examining the complexities of problematic behaviors. Proceedings of the 2021 Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education Symposium.

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2021, October). Comparing the homeownership status of familial and non-familial identity theft victims. Proceedings of the 2021 Housing Education and Research Association Conference.

Betz-Hamilton, A. (2020, November). A comparison of the financial, emotional, and physical consequences of identity theft victimization among familial and non-familial victims. Proceedings of the 2020 Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education Symposium.

Betz-Hamilton, A., & Rich, J.* (2019, November). Successful family member POA agent implementation: Estate planning experiences in South Dakota. Proceedings of the 2019 Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education Symposium.

Gilligan, M., Betz-Hamilton, A., & Chapman, A. (2019). Addressing the theoretical gaps in elder financial exploitation. Innovation in Aging, 3 (suppl_1), S384. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igz038.1409