Pronouns:
She/her
Department:
Community and Global Health
Courses currently teaching:
Careers in Health Studies (CGH 101)/ Careers in Population Health (POPH 104)
Degrees held:
NIH T32 Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Penn Provost Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania; Ph.D. in Social Welfare, minor in Women and Gender Studies, Florida International University; Master of Science in Psychology, Florida International University; Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Florida International University
What are your research interests?
Social determinants of health, sleep health equity, and translational and implementation science. Specifically, I investigate ways social determinants, psychosocial stressors, and environmental factors drive disparities in sleep, health, and mental health among marginalized communities. The sleep outcomes I am most interested in include insomnia, insufficient sleep, and multidimensional sleep health. Long-term, I aim to develop and implement community-engaged behavioral sleep medicine interventions.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I am a philomath. Teaching requires learning and this is what I enjoy most. It is through interacting with individuals who are also on the quest for knowledge that we each learn something along the way. This can be a mutually powerful experience, if you are open to it!
Why did you choose Lehigh?
During my job search, a mentor asked me whether I wanted to be a “big fish in a small pond or a little fish in a big pond.” I thought about it. I came up with, “I want to be a happy fish in a healthy pond, no matter the size.” I chose Lehigh because of the genuine and receptive energy I experienced from the faculty, staff, and even students during my interviews at the College of Health. It was clear to me that Lehigh intended to create a supportive environment for all. This is exactly what I was looking for in an institution, and I am looking forward to contributing to those initiatives.
What was your previous institution?
I recently completed a NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship at The Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Science in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Whew! That was a mouthful!