About Me

I am a STEM education researcher and program evaluator specializing in STEM pedagogy and academic support. I care deeply about making education more accessible to all learners by understanding the conceptual challenges students face, the personal and systemic barriers students navigate, and the practices that instructors use.

From my Ph.D. in Physics doing Physics Education Research, I am passionate about understanding and improving student learning experiences in physics classrooms, particularly for quantum mechanics. 

During my postdoc at the Rochester Institute of Technology, I've developed an interest in faculty professional development, particularly around education research, and understanding the challenges they face and the communal supports they experience. I also co-instructed a pedagogy course for Learning Assistants that promotes their use of evidence-based practices.

My work primarily utilizes qualitative methods, particularly thematic analysis and case study to analyze participant interviews and in-situ observations. I've used many theoretical frameworks to inform this work including Sense of Community [1], Concept Image [2], and Groundskeeping [3]. As a self-proclaimed theory-lover, I'm always interested in learning and using new theoretical frameworks! 

In my recent work as a program evaluator, I've specialized in providing actionable insights to grant-funded education programs in upstate New York. My evaluation work combines qualitative and quantitative methods to provide detailed, insightful summaries of a program's efficacy to ensure the program is aligned with the needs of learners and educators.