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First, tell us a little about yourself. 
I grew up in a small town in Central Illinois, surrounded by cornfields, and I truly miss the Midwest's fall and summer seasons. Although I have lived in Texas since 2006, I remain a dedicated Chicago Bears fan. I spent over 15 years working with nonprofit agencies, primarily those that support individuals experiencing homelessness, before earning my Ph.D. at TCU in May. I am married to a UNT alum and the mother of two boys. I am excited to be part of the faculty here in the Department of Social Work. 

Why did you choose to study social work?
I became interested in social work after volunteering at a child abuse prevention center while an undergraduate. It was the first time that I was exposed to social work and was really inspired by the staff at the agency. I had a long conversation with the director and decided to take an intro to social work course. The rest is history. I changed my major and went on to get my BSW and then my MSW a few years later. I love working in a discipline that centers on the promotion of social justice and empowering individuals and communities. 

What are your main areas of research, and why did you choose those specific areas?
My research area focuses on the sexual and reproductive health of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). I have a particular focus on building SRH screening and assessment tools that can be utilized within practice settings. This interest came from working directly with survivors of IPV and seeing the lack of SRH knowledge and resources offered by local agencies.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I love when the students bring their own lived experiences into class discussions. I enjoy seeing them making the connection between our course content and real-life situations. I also enjoy seeing the passion they have for social work and their future careers.

What do you hope your students gain from your courses?
I hope they can say that the class helped them see a different perspective or think about an issue in another way.

What did you do before pursuing acareer in academia, and why did you decide to pursue higher ed instead?
As stated earlier, I worked for over 15 years in nonprofits settings, primarily working with youth and families experiencing homelessness and victims of intimate partner violence. I began to have an interest in research when as a program director, I partnered with an academic researcher on a study about the victimization of homeless women. Upon completion of the study, I was able to use that data to write a grant that ending up funding the first Homeless Victim Advocacy program in the state. Through this experience, I saw the power and potential of research in improving the lives of others and began to be interested in pursuing academia. I went on to work in the HSC Graduate School of Public Health as a Senior Program Manager, gaining experience working on community research projects and alongside faculty members. This position provided me opportunities to co-author manuscripts and present at national research conferences, solidifying my decision to pursue a PhD and eventually end up in higher education.

When you’re not teaching, what do you enjoy doing?
I spend much of free time watching my boys play sports, whether that is soccer, flag football, or basketball. I like to spend time outdoors when it is cooler, including hiking and kayaking. I also like to read and listen to podcasts.

Do you have any fun facts that others may not know about you?
Our dog Saoirse, is a rescued racing greyhound that came to us from Ireland. She even has her own European passport.