Education

B.A. in Psychology – Saint Louis University, 2013
Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies – University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019

Biography

As a developmental psychologist, my area of focus is on the development of individuals across the lifespan. My research background in Human Development and Family Studies provides a unique, interdisciplinary perspective of examining child development within contextual systems, incorporating both psychological and sociological processes. When developing in my career, I found passion in teaching, which is why I was drawn to Benedictine University, an institution which fosters the unique relationships between faculty and students.

Interests

My research interests span multiple areas of child development and family functioning, but primarily focus on children’s development in early childhood. My current projects all have a common theme of using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory to examine the interplay between individual characteristics of the child and various contextual influences to determine how these interactions contribute to children’s development, especially in the context of parenting and early childhood experiences.