Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology, Suffolk University

M.S., Applied Developmental Psychology, Suffolk University

B.A., Psychology, Dance, Bates College

I am a developmental scientist who studies how cultural and ecological factors shape positive developmental outcomes among Black youth, with a particular focus on Black girls. I draw from human development theories and Black antifascist scholarship to best understand the experiences of Black women and girls in education, health, and digital media, and do so through an asset-based approach. I am particularly interested in how Black girls make-meaning of joy and create joy spaces amid political violence and intersectional bias (e.g., misogynoir) through qualitative, art-based, and quantitative methods.

I am building a research collaborative dedicated to Black women and girls’ thriving. I aim to conduct and disseminate strengths-based, exploratory, and prevention research. The mission includes creating programs and solutions specifically tailored for Black girls and their communities in Tennessee. By developing curricula and resources that amplify joy, challenge misogynoir, and uphold Black antifascist values, my goal is to create a lab that not only contributes to the field but enacts social change.

• • Child and adolescent development
  • Racial and ethnic identity
  • Black feminist and antifascist theory
  • Qualitative and community-based methods
  • Culturally responsive teaching and curriculum
  • Political violence in the U.S.

I see my scholarship as a tool to move conversations forward and drive meaningful change. I was elected to serve as one of two early Career Representatives for the Society for Research in Child Development’s Black Caucus, where I develop professional development programming for scholars and practitioners who center Black families, and I help organize the Caucus’s conference events. I am also a founding board member of Mics for the Missing, a Boston-based non-profit raising awareness and providing resources for cases involving missing Black girls and women. My past engagement work includes collaborating with government agencies and schools on child advocacy and harm reduction. Both my scholarship and public engagement contributions have been featured in outlets such as The Boston Globe, WCVB, The Washington Post, and TEDx. In Knoxville, I hope to continue building meaningful community partnerships that bridge research and action.