Systems should work for people; people should not work for systems.
If you want to know my work value, check out the tabs below for details about research projects, education and certifications, and lists of conference presentations. But if you want to know more about me, you're in the right place.
Researchers of human behavior can fall into this trap of reducing people to populations and numbers. Sure, it's important to know how serious a problem is and who it impacts by-the-numbers. But imagine instead of hearing their stories about what makes them sing with joy, throw their computer mouse, heal their body, apply for a job, or go to school. This is why I value qualitative research so much. It's the stories of why we do the things we do and why we are who we are.
What is it like to work with me?
I'm curious. I love all the ways people are different, and I want to hear about it. I strive to incorporate laughter, creativity, and fun whenever possible. I'm open, honest and transparent. I am not ashamed of what I don't know because the world is big and none of us knows it all. I meet people where they are. I can follow and lead, but I love collaboration the most.
What is my story?
My childhood was tucked between dairy farms and apple orchards in the Rust Belt. I'm proud of my working-class roots and a family tree with grandparents on one branch who arrived at Ellis Island and on another branch those who came over just a few ships after the Mayflower. My family has four unbroken generations of US Navy Veterans, including me. Eventually, I worked my way through college as a parent and a partner.
Along the way, I heard a quote that resonated with how I wanted my children to experience the world. It solidified my love with anthropology, for its methods and approaches to understanding human behavior. Cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict said, "The purpose of anthropology is to make the world safe for human differences." I think our differences make us beautifully human. Now, I listen for the stories that bring us together and make us unique, and then I facilitate opportunities for people to understand one another.