I grew up in a one-stoplight, cornfield-encircled town in rural Illinois. Upon earning my associates degree at Carl Sandburg College, I transferred to Western Illinois University for my bachelors and masters degree, where I studied psychology and developed a passion for research. I went on to earn a PhD in experimental psychology at Texas Christian University, where I worked with Dr. Sarah E. Hill in the Hill Evolutionary Social Psychology Lab.
I enjoy teaching and working with undergraduate students on research projects.
When I'm not at school, I like to spend my time reading, knitting, hosting dog parties, drinking wine, and entertaining my standard poodles, Mephisto and Zappa.