Values
As an interdisciplinary feminist researcher, my work is a reflection of my values and philosophy. I believe in dismantling barriers that perpetuate stigmatization and inequality, and advocating for change within and outside of academia. I value collaborative relationships with fellow researchers, activists, and communities. I believe that research is a tool for shedding light on pressing social issues and challenging dominant knowledge structures. I am eager to translate research findings into actionable steps that foster meaningful change, and to make my research accessible to those within and outside of the academic community. This includes a commitment to both improving and engaging with the open science movement.
Work
In addition to my research program, which focuses on prioritizing historically underrepresented perspectives, I support a number of formal and informal initiatives to create a welcoming and supportive academic climate for marginalized faculty and students alike. As a consultant in the College of Science at Penn State, I worked with the dean to develop diversity initiatives, including a comprehensive resource database indexing relevant academic DEI literature. In service to undergraduate and graduate students, I have served as a mentor for international students via departmental peer mentorship initiatives and Next Gen Psych Scholars, as well as for first generation college students through the First Generation Advocates program. In addition, I consistently volunteered at the Penn State Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, advocating for initiatives to improve LGBTQ+ well-being on campus. These efforts were recognized with the Susan R. Rankin Award, the Lambda Alumni Scholarship, and the LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Activism Award, as well as the Edna Bennet Pierce Prevention Research Center's Research Award to Reduce Racism and Promote Antiracism.
