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Resume

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Skills

Topic Expertise

  • ​Social-emotional development

  • Brain development

  • The meaning of play

  • Life narratives

  • Mental health interventions

  • Trauma-informed & culturally responsive care

Qualitative Research Methods 

  • Field studies

  • Diary studies

  • User interviews

  • Usability testing

  • Prototype testing

  • Heuristic analysis

  • Focus groups

  • Stakeholder interviews

Professional Skills 

  • Literature reviews

  • Grant writing

  • Project management

  • Mentorship

  • Workshops

  • Participant recruitment 

  • Dissemination of research findings

  • Curriculum development

Quantitative Research Methods

  • Surveys

  • Experimental design 

  • Measure design & reliability analysis

  • Secondary data analysis

  • Mediation & moderation

  • Latent class & profile analysis

Professional Experience

August 2022 - Present

Clinical Social Worker
Private Practice, Chicago, IL

  • Partner with clients to create treatment plans that result in increased mental wellbeing, educational attainment, and parenting confidence. 

  • Utilize play therapy with children that results in increased mental wellbeing, emotion regulation and school performance. 

August 2019 - Present

Assistant Professor
School of Social Work, Arizona State University

  • Partnered with non-profit organization on a mixed-methods program evaluation to improve health outcomes for substance-exposed babies.

    • Implemented trauma-informed services which increased maternal
      involvement and infant wellbeing outcomes.

      • Conducted iterative research and design of concepts and prototypes for interactive family activities based on user feedback and stakeholder interviews.

      • Families reported an increase awareness of childhood development and healthy family dynamics.

  • Developed and evaluated a community-based program to facilitate family bonding and increase use of services.

  • Led a national, multi-method, longitudinal study to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the parenting experience of mothers with young children.

    • Administered quantitative survey and conducted remote observational research to determine the effect of stress and trauma on family relationships and mental health.

  • Developed content and learning design for four social work courses.

  • Created and facilitated training workshops on trauma interventions.

  • Mentored doctoral, masters, and undergraduate students.

  • Published research articles in peer-reviewed journals.

  • Served on committees shaping curriculum development and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

July 2018 - Present

Co-Founder
Tender Press Books, www.tenderpressbooks.com

  • Co-developed resources for social workers and foster parents of children separated from their families due to immigration policy.
    Co-created Cecilia y la Larga Caminata (Cecilia and the Long Walk), a therapeutic coloring book for kids impacted by immigration policy.

  • Co-created Georgie and the Giant Germ, a therapeutic coloring book that addresses children’s fears about the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • This coloring book was translated into many languages and distributed internationally, featured in USA Today, and chosen for inclusion in the NIH Library of Medicine.

August 2017 - June 2019

Clinical Social Worker
Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan

  • Provided sliding-scale mental health counseling for individuals with a history of trauma.

  • Partnered with clients to create treatment plans that resulted in increased mental wellbeing, housing stability, and educational attainment.

  • Utilized play therapy with children that led to healthier family dynamics.

  • Created workshops demonstrating the impact of structural inequalities on mental health.

September 2012 - June 2019

Graduate Student Research Assistant
University of Michigan, Department of Psychology

  • Lead investigator for a series of studies using brain imaging technology, task analysis, and survey responses to investigate how mother-infant interactions impact brain development.

  • Utilized behavioral observation and task analysis to generate a clinician training manual.

  • Received $30,000 in competitive grant funding.

  • Developer and teacher for a range of courses related to social-emotional development.

  • Research mentor for undergraduate research assistants.

  • Published eight research articles in peer-reviewed journals.

August 2009 - January 2011

Research Assistant
University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry

  • Collected quantitative surveys and gaming task analysis data for a series of studies related to the development of executive functioning in childhood.

  • Performed literature reviews and aided in the writing manuscripts.

  • Contributed to the organization and facilitation of conferences and events.

Education

2019

PhD | Developmental Psychology & Social Work

University of Michigan

2016

MS | Developmental Psychology

University of Michigan

2015

MSW | Interpersonal Practice & Mental Health

University of Michigan

2009

BA | Psychology

Bryn Mawr College

Licensure

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

No. 6801114804

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