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Axton Betz-Hamilton

Associate Professor

Education

  • Ph.D. in human development and family studies | Iowa State University
  • M.S. in personal financial planning | Kansas State University
  • M.S. in consumer sciences and retailing | Purdue University
  • B.S. in agricultural economics | Purdue University

Academic and Professional Experience

Academic Interests
Academic Interests
  • Familial identity theft
  • Financial exploitation of older adults by family members
  • Familiar identity theft
  • Trauma
Academic Responsibilities
  • 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)
Committees and Professional Memberships

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

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
  • Eastern Illinois University, University of Wyoming and Iowa Central Community College Faculty Appointments
  • Financial counselor for Military Members and their families
Expertise

Research and Scholarly Work

Areas of Research
  • Familial identity theft
  • Financial abuse of older adults by family members
  • Housing 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. Exploring familial identity theft victimization Through victim stories and case-related documents. South Dakota Humanities Council, 2022, $1,238.00.
  • Betz-Hamilton, A. and Croymans, S. (2022). South Dakota-Minnesota healthy homes. National Healthy Homes Partnership Subgrant. ($17,998.00).  
  • Betz-Hamilton, A. South Dakota healthy homes. National Healthy Homes Partnership Subgrant, 2021, $13,536.00.
  • Vincenti, V., Betz-Hamilton, A. and Chapman, A. Understanding elder family financial exploitation (EFFE): Identifying risk and protective factors. Kappa Omicron Nu New Initiatives Grant, 2018-2021, $9,000.00.
  • Vincenti, V. B. and Betz-Hamilton, A. E. Elder family financial exploitation: risk and protective factors within families. Phi Upsilon Omicron Alumni Research Grant, 2018, $2,500.00.
  • Betz-Hamilton, A. Exploration of the risk and protective factors associated with elder family financial exploitation (EFFE).  South Dakota State University Foundation Women and Giving Grant, 2018, $1,200.00.
  • Betz-Hamilton, A. Understanding the experiences of familial identity theft: A pilot study. South Dakota State University Scholarly Excellence Funds, 2017, $4,084.08.
Publications
  1. 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.
  2. 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. DOI:10.14307/JFCS114.4.54.
  3. Green, L., Betz-Hamilton, A., Vasquez, K., Lee, S. J., Albright, B. L., Cantrell, R., Peek, G. and Carswell, A.T. (2022). Home modification for older adults aging in place: Evidence from the American Housing Survey. Journal of Aging and Environment. DOI:10.1080/26892618.2022.2140466.
  4. 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. DOI:10.1891/JFCP-2021-0014.
  5. 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. DOI:10.1108/JFC-04-2022-0085.
  6. Betz-Hamilton, A. E., Stum, M. S., and Chan, A. C. Y.* (2022). Elder family financial exploitation offenders: Examining the complexities of problematic behaviors. Victims and Offenders, 18 (5), 943-960. DOI:10.1080/15564886.2022.2040068.
  7. Betz-Hamilton, A. and *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.
  8. 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.
  9. Betz-Hamilton, A. (2020). Understanding the experiences of familiar identity theft victims: A pilot study. Journal of Financial Therapy, 11 (1). DOI:10.4148/1944-9771.1237.
  10. 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. DOI:10.1891/JFCP-19-00001.
  11. Betz-Hamilton, A. E., Brooks, L. and 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. DOI:10.14307/JFCS111.3.31.
  12. Betz-Hamilton, A.E. and 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. DOI:10.14307/JFCS110.1.19.
  13. Betz-Hamilton, A. and 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.
  14. Betz-Hamilton, A. and Croymans, S. (2023, October). The impact of a webinar on housing and healthy homes. Proceedings of the 2023 Housing Education and Research Association conference.
  15. Albright, B., Betz-Hamilton, A., Green, L., McAlister, D., Lee, S-J., Cantrell, R., Vasquez, K., Mimura, Y., Peek, G. and 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.
  16. Jussel, J.* and 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.
  17. 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. and 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.
  18. 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.
  19. Betz-Hamilton, A., Stum, M. and 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. Betz-Hamilton, A. and 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.
  23. Gilligan, M., Betz-Hamilton, A. and Chapman, A. (2019). Addressing the theoretical gaps in elder financial exploitation. Innovation in Aging, 3 (suppl_1), S384. DOI:10.1093/geroni/igz038.1409.
Mailing Address:
Harding Hall 229
Ness School of Management & Economics-Box 2220
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007
Cell Phone Number:
309-338-9889
Office Location:
Harding Hall
Room 229
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Associated Areas
Harding Hall
Ness School of Management and Economics