Biography

Broadly speaking, I am interested in studying human connection, interaction, and relationships. For example, what are the communicative factors and behaviors that lead to feelings of closeness and affiliation during and after an interaction? How do we show that we are listening, or feel heard in an interaction? What makes some interactions feel effortless, and others feel awkward? In pursuit of these questions, I’ve discovered a particular interest in studying interactions between strangers.

I find great joy and satisfaction in conducting mixed-methods, interdisciplinary research. Before coming to UCLA, I worked with corporate and education clients as a qualitative market researcher, and as a project manager and researcher within a medical school. From recruiting participants to facilitating focus groups to managing a $1 million+ grant, I’ve worked on just about every phase of corporate and academic research projects. In the years between Georgetown and UCLA, I also tried my hand at a side hustle, opening up a cottage bakery where I sold custom-made cake pops.

When I’m not wearing my academic hat, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, baking and cooking, crafting, supporting local small businesses, and finding any excuse to be up in the magical Sierra Nevada mountains.

Taking a break from my computer screen atop Hawks Peak near Truckee, CA!