Chair, Division of Behavioral Science, Professor of Psychology

I have been a faculty member in the Psychology department at Maryville College since 2000. Prior to joining the faculty at Maryville College, I earned a PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, focusing my academic study and research in the area of Social Psychology. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Richmond, where I majored in Psychology and had minors in both Spanish and Women’s Studies.

I regularly teach Social Psychology (PSY/SOC 221), Cross-Cultural Psychology (PSY 224), Community Psychology (PSY 336), and First-Year Seminar (FYS 110).  I enjoy teaching classes using interactive methods and also incorporate principles of civic learning and democratic engagement in the classroom, which means that students have some ownership and choice in what we learn and how we go about our class activities and projects.

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE

My research and professional work has focused on academic and social self-efficacy among first-generation college students, or students who would be the first in their families to graduate from college. I am also engaged in understanding the experiences of Hispanic and Latino/a/e high school and college students, particularly DACA/undocumented students (DREAMers) who were not born in the United States but came to the United States as children. I have been very involved with the Villamaría initiative at Maryville College, an outreach program focused on Latino/a/e students and families that developed out of a grant opportunity through the Appalachian College Association and Excelencia in Education.

Through a grant from Conexión Américas and with the help of two Maryville College student interns, I developed a variety of community programs and initiatives to support Hispanic students who desire a college education. I partnered with school counselors and teachers at Lenoir City High School to develop a college preparation and mentoring program called “Puertas” (which means “doors” in Spanish). Working with some Maryville College colleagues, I also coordinate an annual conference at Maryville College for school counselors, K-12 administrators, teachers, and community leaders around the general theme of supporting the higher education dreams of Latino/a/estudents.

As a result of these interests, I have also worked to become proficient in Spanish, as many of the students and colleagues I work with are bilingual, and some of their families are more comfortable communicating in Spanish. I enjoy speaking Spanish very much, so I welcome conversations with Spanish-speaking students and their families visiting our campus!

I am also actively engaged in social and racial justice work both at Maryville College and through my faith community Foothills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where I serve on the Immigration Justice Team.