Experience

Equal Opportunity Schools

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Research

  • Mar 2023 - Present



Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning

• United States
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Researcher

  • Jan 2023 - Mar 2023

• Research Associate

  • Nov 2019 - 2023

  • Led a team of 3 evaluation experts to re-review and code 83 SEL programs and 155 evaluation reports, with special attention paid to uplifting culturally and developmentally appropriate teaching practices and student outcomes (e.g., improvements in cultural identity or school belonging). • Created high-quality research-informed evaluation criteria, designed an accessible submission portal, and led all assessment and statistical review of 65 learning programs/products submissions from… Show more • Led a team of 3 evaluation experts to re-review and code 83 SEL programs and 155 evaluation reports, with special attention paid to uplifting culturally and developmentally appropriate teaching practices and student outcomes (e.g., improvements in cultural identity or school belonging). • Created high-quality research-informed evaluation criteria, designed an accessible submission portal, and led all assessment and statistical review of 65 learning programs/products submissions from curriculum developers. • Created a variety of educator- and curriculum developer-facing resources (e.g., webinars, checklists, briefs) to support educators in providing consistent, high-quality SEL opportunities for all preK-12th students. • Led a working group which achieved all milestones set forth by funders (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) resulting in the creation of large, nationwide teacher and principal surveys of SEL and equitable learning practices.



YMCA of the USA (National Resource Office)

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Evaluation Specialist

  • 2020 - 2020

  Chicago, Illinois, United States • Conducted thematical analyses and identified meaningful patterns to support YMCA’s Character Development and Learning Institute, a 4-yr, $20M project aimed at rapidly discovering, testing, and widely sharing best adult practices that positively influence youth development. • Created summary briefs used to disseminate research findings to internal stakeholders, external funders, and larger research organizations (i.e., Child Trends).



The University of Texas at Austin

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Associate

  • 2019 - 2019

  • Directed Project PISCES: Preventing Inequalities in School Climate and Educational Success, a 3-year National Science Foundation funded grant investigating 1000+ diverse adolescents’ school experiences at the critical middle to high school transition. • Designed and implemented research studies using quantitative and qualitative longitudinal data, conducted statistical analyses, trained and managed research staff, and disseminated results through briefs for school-based end-users… Show more • Directed Project PISCES: Preventing Inequalities in School Climate and Educational Success, a 3-year National Science Foundation funded grant investigating 1000+ diverse adolescents’ school experiences at the critical middle to high school transition. • Designed and implemented research studies using quantitative and qualitative longitudinal data, conducted statistical analyses, trained and managed research staff, and disseminated results through briefs for school-based end-users, peer-reviewed publications, and U.S. and international conference presentations. • Led a team of 10 graduate students and 30+ undergraduates, many of who were first time social science researchers, to execute project goals resulting in all milestones being completed on schedule.

• Project Coordinator and Graduate Research Assistant

  • 2014 - 2019

  Austin, Texas, United States • Pursued a research agenda focused on understanding how children and adolescents navigate important transition periods and how that influences self-constructs, social and emotional competences, and educational performance. • Served as project coordinator for Project PISCES: Preventing Inequalities in School Climate and Educational Success, a National Science Foundation funded grant investigating how school climate and marginalization are related to academic achievement and social-emotional… Show more • Pursued a research agenda focused on understanding how children and adolescents navigate important transition periods and how that influences self-constructs, social and emotional competences, and educational performance. • Served as project coordinator for Project PISCES: Preventing Inequalities in School Climate and Educational Success, a National Science Foundation funded grant investigating how school climate and marginalization are related to academic achievement and social-emotional health as youth transition from middle school to high school. • Conducted data analyses for several ongoing studies that explore how social contexts influence school transitions using large-scale, secondary national datasets, most notably Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten 1998, Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten 2011, and Education Longitudinal Study of 2002. • Prepared IRB materials for university and school districts applications and renewals • Led a diverse team of undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate researchers to meet project deadlines and ensure necessary deliverables

• Graduate Teaching Assistant

  • 2014 - 2018

  • Served as a graduate teaching assistant for multiple undergraduate courses in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Courses included Child Development (HDF 313), Adolescent Development (HDF 371), Theories of Child and Family Development (HDF 378L), and Research Practicum (HDF 355).



American Institutes for Research

• United States
• Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Intern

  • 2017 - 2017

  Austin, Texas, United States • Implemented a study on the influence of school context on students’ perceptions of school climate and behavior in high-performing Title 1 schools. • Met with community stakeholders, prepared IRB submissions, participated in qualitative participant data collection, created parent and child surveys, and conducted statistical analyses. • Served as research assistant for multiple projects, including a randomized control trial with a Fortune 100 company and a program evaluation of a… Show more • Implemented a study on the influence of school context on students’ perceptions of school climate and behavior in high-performing Title 1 schools. • Met with community stakeholders, prepared IRB submissions, participated in qualitative participant data collection, created parent and child surveys, and conducted statistical analyses. • Served as research assistant for multiple projects, including a randomized control trial with a Fortune 100 company and a program evaluation of a university-wide STEM teacher training program. Show less



3C Institute

• United States
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Assistant II

  • 2012 - 2014

  Durham, North Carolina, United States • Served as project coordinator for the implementation of 6Phase I and Phase II National Institutes of Health and Department of Education interventions. • Project management duties included teacher and student recruitment, leading study curriculum training sessions, creating and managing participant surveys, scheduling and administering assessments, leading professional stakeholder focus groups, and conducting statistical analyses and contributing to manuscripts.



East Carolina University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Assistant

  • 2011 - 2012

  Greenville, North Carolina, United States • Served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate courses in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Courses included Teaching Reading Instruction in Primary Grades (READ 3301) and Classroom Organization and Management (ELEM 4525). • Contributed in data collection activities on a NIH-funded project (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) in the Valrie lab. Duties included conducting home- and hospital-based assessments with adolescents, participant interview transcription, and… Show more • Served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate courses in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Courses included Teaching Reading Instruction in Primary Grades (READ 3301) and Classroom Organization and Management (ELEM 4525). • Contributed in data collection activities on a NIH-funded project (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) in the Valrie lab. Duties included conducting home- and hospital-based assessments with adolescents, participant interview transcription, and managing participant recruitment, compliance, and retention. Show less



Interior Design Services, Inc.

• Account Manager

  • 2008 - 2010

  Brentwood, Tennessee, United States • Managed projects for predominantly federal and state of Tennessee government accounts in office furniture purchases. • Insured seamless sales/ordering process from inception to installation of product through involvement in all aspects of transaction and customer service. • Built and developed productive business relationships with end-users and contracting officers.