Past Projects

My Background

I graduated from Florida International University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a minor in Sociology, and a certificate in Women and Gender Studies. My research career began as a research assistant at the Power, Women and Relationship's Lab under the guidance of Dr. Asia Eaton where I first gained experience in qualitative research working with women who have experienced homelessness. Beyond this project, I also have experience with other methods such as photo-voice, focus groups, questionnaires, and intervention development.

Project YUNG

Project YUNG is a theory-based, multi-component nutrition based curriculum for middle and high school youth with an emphasis on adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age.
The goal of Project YUNG is to provide informative and hands-on activities to introduce food-related topics that are culturally appropriate and realistic for adolescents that primarily come from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

My Role:

I was recruited by PepsiCo. to conduct research to understand eating patterns of youth, and to create this curriculum from scratch that will help to increase self efficacy, health, and nutrition.

A Culture of Care: How Lotus House women's shelter heals program participants through genuineness, dignity, belonging, individualized attention, high expectations, and space

The Power, Women, and Relationships Lab, in partnership with Lotus House, one of the largest women’s shelters in the U.S., conducted a study to understand women’s experiences in and prior to the shelter system.

Purpose: This project (publication out now) examines the culture of Lotus House to inform shelter programming and policies.

Methods: Using a Participatory Action Research framework, we conducted eight focus groups with 50 diverse graduates of Lotus House.

Results: The findings reveal elements of a “culture of care,” characterized by:

Genuine dignity and respect for participants.
High expectations for independence and accountability.
A supportive space for rest, healing, and belonging.
Personalized attention to individual needs and experiences.

My Role:
I contributed by taking notes during focus groups, conducting literature reviews, transcribing, analyzing data, and assisting with writing.

Adolescent Girls' Perceptions of After School Programs in a Resource-Limited Neighborhood

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My Role
This independent project, funded by McNair Scholars, focused on understanding Black adolescent girls’ perceptions of after-school programs, particularly the Girl Power program. The study aimed to identify culturally specific needs and desired program outcomes to improve services and align with best practices (Burkhauser & Metz, 2009).

Purpose
This research is part of a larger qualitative project designed to develop community-based interventions by partnering parents, after-school programs, and university researchers to enhance services in low-resource neighborhoods.

Key Questions

What are Black adolescent girls’ perceptions of the purpose, meaning, and value of after-school programs?
What are the strengths and limitations of the Girl Power program, according to participants?

For more details and results, please refer to the poster.

Neighborhoods of Refuge: Human Security at the Margins of Four Global Cities

Principal Investigator: Dr. Matthew D. Marr

This project examines neighborhoods of refuge—urban areas where homelessness, affordable housing, and social movements intersect. These neighborhoods often emerge from discriminatory “containment policies” designed to isolate marginalized populations from prime redevelopment spaces. Despite these origins, they can transform into service hubs that foster community identity, participation, and resistance to gentrification, while promoting the convenience and effectiveness of supportive services.

My Role:

Conducted one-on-one interviews with individuals experiencing homelessness in four global cities.
Transcribed audio recordings and performed meta-analysis.
Assisted in qualitative data analysis for this large-scale study.