Assistant Professor

• Aug 2017 - Present

I am a faculty member who studies school readiness among parents/families and schools using qualitative methods and a family resiliency framework. I am a faculty member who studies school readiness among parents/families and schools using qualitative methods and a family resiliency framework.

Instructor

• 2012 - 2018

HDFS 105: Introduction to Human Development Across the Lifespan (online) HDFS 320: Infancy and Early Childhood HDFS 379/499: Children and Families Service Learning in Cape Town, South Africa

Teaching Assistant

• 2012 - 2016

HDFS 105: Introduction to Human Development Across the Lifespan HDFS 220: Families in Global PerspectiveHDFS 340: Gender, Relations, and Society

Program Coordinator

• Aug 2016 - Aug 2017

As the Program Coordinator of the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP), I was responsible for coordinating eight graduate student Research Team Leader (RTL) staff and approximately sixty undergraduate student participants, as well as meeting other academic and program needs. In addition to helping with the planning of the summer events and schedule, I provided support to the Graduate College Educational Equity Programs Office through close interactions with each SROP RTL, their respective SROP participants, EEP staff, and others involved with the program. In addition to leading weekly staff meetings, I assisted with planning, executing, and representing the Graduate College at all summer activities including professional development workshops, research writing seminars and research team meetings, student social activities, and the annual Illinois Summer Research Symposium (ISRS). Show less

Graduate Coordinator

• Jan 2011 - May 2017

As an America Reads/America Counts Graduate Coordinator, I am responsible for overseeing the activities at my site and supervising the undergraduate tutors. Further, I also serve as a liaison between the tutors, staff at the tutoring sites, and program administration to ensure compliance to rules and smooth operation of the program. As an America Reads/America Counts Graduate Coordinator, I am responsible for overseeing the activities at my site and supervising the undergraduate tutors. Further, I also serve as a liaison between the tutors, staff at the tutoring sites, and program administration to ensure compliance to rules and smooth operation of the program.

Evaluation Research Assistant

• Jun 2013 - Aug 2016

As an I-STEM graduate research assistant currently working on various evaluation projects that are funded by Illinois Science & Technology Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency & the Sciences, National Institute for Food and Agriculture, and the McCormick Foundation. I collected and analyzed qualitative and quantitative data and published end-of- year reports, in addition to giving formal and informal presentations. As an I-STEM graduate research assistant currently working on various evaluation projects that are funded by Illinois Science & Technology Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency & the Sciences, National Institute for Food and Agriculture, and the McCormick Foundation. I collected and analyzed qualitative and quantitative data and published end-of- year reports, in addition to giving formal and informal presentations.

Graduate Mentor

• 2015 - 2016

Mentored a first-year undergraduate student, providing her the opportunity to learn what it means to do research at an R1 university, create knowledge, and produce scholarship. At the same time, I benefitted from workshops and seminars that helped me plan and prepare to make the most of this apprenticeship. Topics included “building and maintaining an accountable mentoring relationship”; “planning and assigning a workflow timeline”; and “negotiating the mentor/mentee dynamic.” Mentored a first-year undergraduate student, providing her the opportunity to learn what it means to do research at an R1 university, create knowledge, and produce scholarship. At the same time, I benefitted from workshops and seminars that helped me plan and prepare to make the most of this apprenticeship. Topics included “building and maintaining an accountable mentoring relationship”; “planning and assigning a workflow timeline”; and “negotiating the mentor/mentee dynamic.”

Research Team Leader

• Jun 2013 - Aug 2015

As a Research Team Leader (RTL) I was responsible for assisting approximately 8-10 undergraduate participants assigned to my research team with their summer research project development, writing, and oral presentations. I assisted with mentoring, advising, research project development and writing, and graduate school preparation of all my Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) participants. My primary objective was to aid in creating a summer experience that would provide the program participants with a more thorough understanding and knowledge of the research process, research and technical writing, and the graduate school admissions process. Show less

Graduate Mentor

• 2010 - 2012

As a Graduate Mentor (GM), I was responsible for the support,monitoring, and assessment of each of my students through general counseling sessions. Likewise, I extended personalized and friendly assistance to under-represented students at the U of I. In addition to being an advocate and mentor to students, I helped the Office of Minority Student Affairs by enhancing the academic performance and improve the retention and graduation rates of under-represented students. As a Graduate Mentor (GM), I was responsible for the support,monitoring, and assessment of each of my students through general counseling sessions. Likewise, I extended personalized and friendly assistance to under-represented students at the U of I. In addition to being an advocate and mentor to students, I helped the Office of Minority Student Affairs by enhancing the academic performance and improve the retention and graduation rates of under-represented students.

Researcher, Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program

• May 2009 - Aug 2009