My scholarship connects my own life experiences of growing up in a low-income family to empirical evidence. My research agenda to serve economically-disadvantaged children, families, and schools is energized by this sense of purpose.

My work is driven by a commitment to advancing the well-being of children and families globally through applied, interdisciplinary research; my research includes producing descriptive evidence and designing and evaluating interventions. I employ a developmental-ecological framework and quantitative methodologies to identify and test key levers of change in home and school settings that foster resilience, executive functions, and learning among kids facing stressors and hardships. Recognizing that structural inequities can also undermine caregiver resilience, my work focuses on strategies to promote caregiver well-being and resources as pathways to healthy family functioning. Additionally, I examine how early educational experiences and supportive school environments shape development and how educational environments can be protective and offset family hardships.

I earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and an M.S.Ed. and Ph.D. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. I also hold a certificate in Advanced Studies in Education Sciences and am a former Institute for Education Sciences Predoctoral Fellow and AERA-NSF Dissertation Fellow. Outside of academia, I have apprenticed in federal policy settings (e.g., Office of Community Services, an office of the Administration for Children and Families) and worked as a Research Associate at the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, serving as a program evaluator for the AdoptUSKids project.

When I am not at work, I enjoy hiking and traveling, exploring creative self-expression through fashion, and trying to match my dog’s state of relaxation.