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Philosophy


I was raised to believe that education was the key to success. I've grown to learn that knowledge is the key to changing the world. Sustained by curiosity, imagination, and hope, I use my education to contribute to the healing and collective advancement of our shared environment.

Education


University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT — 3.9/4.0, Magna Cum Laude
  • Master of Public Policy, Fast-Track | May 2021
  • Bachelor of Arts, Cognitive Science & Anthropology | May 2020

Honors & Awards
  • Honors Scholar
  • Dean’s List: Spring ‘17–’20
  • New England Scholar: ‘17–’20
  • Presidential Scholars Award for Valedictorians and Salutorians
  • Donald L. McCullough Leadership Award
  • NAACP UConn Chapter Activist of the Year

Fellowships & Societies
  • National Society of Collegiate Scholars
  • BOLD Women’s Leadership Network
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Cohen Student Leadership Scholarship
  • Helen Gurley Brown Fellowship

Research Experience


Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy | Allied Health Sciences | Rudd Center at UConn
Hartford, CT | Research Technician | June 2020–August 2020
  • Researched policy implementation and organizational output for the Invest Health Hartford Health-Equity-in-All-Policies Audit led by Dr. Kristen Cooksey Stowers.
  • Analyzed and presented on the food insecurity data of UConn undergraduates.
  • Collected data and refined the protocol for Dr. Loneke Blackman-Carr’s “WellTalk” study on the cultural appropriateness of obesity intervention and nutrition/exercise programs.

National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at Yale University
New Haven, CT | Research Intern | June 2018–August 2018
  • Conducted experiments, coded, analyzed, and presented data for primary investigators, Drs. Yarrow Dunham and Lisa Chalik in the Yale Social Cognitive Development Lab, and Dr. Laurie Santos in the Canine Cognition Center.
  • Presented for the Yale Summer Internship Conference. Attended the New York University Pre-empting Racism workshop.

Experimental Anthropology Lab 
Storrs, CT | Research Assistant| January 2018– June 2020
  • Facilitated research design; collected, coded, and analyzed physiological and qualitative data for Dr. Dimitris Xygalatas
  • Mentored new research assistants and assisted in their training on various methods, hardware, and software.
  • Traveled to Brazil to collect data for the ‘Dynamics of fan’s experience during sports games; A study of Brazilian soccer fans’ research project (funded by the Presidential Scholarship Enrichment Award).

Leadership Experience


Connecticut Equity Now (CTEN)
Hartford, CT | Board of Directors & Policy Committee | January 2021–March 2022
  • Facilitate the structural and cultural development of CTEN via mission and goal setting and administrative processes.
  • Manage legislative advocacy efforts including drafting language,and engaging community and general assembly members.

UConn Collaborative Organizing (UCCO)
Storrs, CT | Founding President | August 2019Present
  • Organized and (co)-led 15 major advocacy events, workshops, and grassroots movements for intersectional social and environmental justice in collaboration with 23 other organizations, engaging hundreds of students, faculty, and staff.
  • Recruited and ran the election of an executive board, two roles of which were tailor made to organizational needs.
  • Led an executive board of six positions, delegating tasks according to project goal and magnitude.
  • Networked with university stakeholders and greater community leaders to propose and negotiate institutional action.
  • Steered institutional policy/practice change regarding climate action, anti-racist efforts, and mental health services.
  • Mentor new activists at UConn and the greater CT community, and provide assistance for their organizing when requested.

BOLD Women’s Leadership Network
Storrs, CT | BOLD Scholar | January 2019-
  • Independently conducted an anthropological study of Cross Cultural Engagement and Intersectional Activism Among UConn Affiliates
  • Presented on research and BOLD, and participated in leadership development, a cohort project, and mentoring cohort two.
  • Founded UConn Collaborative Organizing (UCCO)

Professional Experience


Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health (CEEJH) at University of Maryland
College Park, MD (Remote) | Helen Gurley Brown Fellow | September 2021–Present
  • Facilitating research, project execution, and manuscript writing for MD EJ Scorecard, Air Quality Monitoring, and Climate.
  • Managing 2022 Symposium planning, grant research & writing, and policy technical assistance for regional EJ Coalition.

U.S Environmental Protection Agency with the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute
Washington D.C | Sustainability Fellow | June 2021–August 2021
  • Consulted for the Stakeholder Engagement Branch on how to improve reciprocal engagement with environmental justice communities, environmental NGOs, and federally recognized tribes via internal practice evaluation and external research.
  • Developed case-study reports and outreach implementation strategies for selected lead impacted communities.

Health Equity Solutions
Hartford CT | Policy Intern | August 2020–May 2021
  • Analyzed policy pertaining to Medicaid quality indicators, Community Benefit, HEiAP, and federal relief funding.
  • Prepared for legislative sessions by consolidating information for grassroots partners and legislators, managing social media campaigns, and communicating action plans for partners.
  • Facilitated coalition building through community listening sessions, event coordination, and administrative tasks.
  • Served as the Interim Policy and Advocacy Outreach Specialist in successful efforts to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis in local and state government (Senate Bill No. 1 - Public Act No. 21-35) to promote anti-racist policy accountability.