Psychology

As a freshman psychology major, I had no clear picture of what my path (or, psych-o-path) would be. 

I knew that I wanted to learn about what makes us human, and that I was interested in was human storytelling. As an undergrad at Sacred Heart University (SHU), my two favorite classes were social psychology and personality psychology. I decided to pursue Master's in applied psychology with a focus on community, which eventually led to my love of research. 

It was 2012 and Instagram and Snapchat were just babies. Social media was beginning to be recognized in the literature. I was an intern at a social media agency, which gave me, the former QUEEN of Myspace, the opportunity to explore this topic for my Master's thesis. I graduated from SHU with the Silver Medal of Excellence, and was recognized for being the only one in my program to apply psychology to a non-clinical setting.

I was dedicated to becoming a creator of the knowledge within this field, and eventually went on to conduct my own study on social media, personality, and mindfulness. My research was remote, as was my job at the social media agency I had interned for, allowing me to travel avidly in the process. In September 2020 I graduated with my Ph.D, and defended my dissertation in my childhood bedroom in front of my family.

My professional path has led me to Scripps Research Digital Trials Center, a lab that allows anyone, anywhere to participate in research. I get to work everyday in the space where digital engagement meets science. Human storytelling is such an important part of this work. I'm reminded daily that my path chose me.