I am a Visiting Assistant Professor in Psychology at Mount Holyoke College. Prior to starting at Mount Holyoke, I was a postdoctoral research fellow with the Developing Belief Network at Queen’s University Belfast and earned my PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology at George Mason University in the Play Learning Arts and Youth Lab in 2024. Prior to my PhD studies, I earned a BS in Psychology and a BA in Dance from the University of Washington and a MSEd in Human Development from the University of Pennsylvania.
My research interests fall into three primary areas including social cognitive development, psychology of the arts, and contextual influences on development. I also enjoy engaging in different research methodologies and particularly appreciate mixed methods approaches.
Before graduate school, I spent several years working as a professional dancer, working with Autistic children in school and extracurricular settings, and teaching dance to a variety of ages and ability levels. Outside of academia, I continue to teach dance and participate in community arts. My experiences as a teacher and artist have greatly influenced my research interests and approaches.
