I am a PhD student in Positive Developmental Psychology at Claremont Graduate University, where I also serve as a Teaching Assistant and Lab Manager at the Quality of Life Research Center. Much of my work is guided by a simple question: Why do some of pursuits in life resonate with us more than others? To answer this question I examine markers of resonance such as flow and personal expressiveness, the contexts that foster them, and their longer-term links to growth.
Research Statement
My research investigates how identity develops through meaningful engagement in everyday life. I use experience sampling to capture momentary states of flow, personal expressiveness, and emotion, then link these states to patterns of growth measured over time. A recurring theme in my work is how goals, values, and social context support or hinder the development of a stable and vital sense of self.
Conceptually, I integrate perspectives on eudaimonia, passion, purpose, and identity. Empirically, I combine intensive longitudinal designs with multilevel models to test how daily experiences accumulate into meaningful change. The aim is to inform theory and to offer practical tools for educators, coaches, and clinicians who want to cultivate settings where people can do their best and thrive.
Methods
- Intensive longitudinal designs (Experience Sampling, daily diaries)
- Multilevel modeling of within-person processes and between-person differences
- Longitudinal designs for change over time and individual trajectories
- Measurement work on momentary states such as personal expressiveness and positive identity
Current Projects
- Professional identity in medical education: studying identity development across the medical education continuum and its links to well-being and ill-being.
- Momentary eudaimonic functioning: examining the contextual correlates of engagement in personally meaningful, identity salient activities
Teaching and Mentoring
I teach and support learning in research methods, statistics, and developmental psychology. My approach emphasizes active learning, clear scaffolding, and practical application. I have supported students through course instruction, lab management, and one-on-one guidance on research design, data analysis, and scientific communication.
- Lecturer, California State University, Northridge — Foundations of Child and Adolescent Development
- Adjunct Faculty, Pasadena City College — Statistics for Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Teaching Assistant, Claremont Graduate University — Positive Psychology, Theories of Lifespan Development
- Teaching Assistant, Claremont McKenna College — Research Methods
Recognition: Division of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences Teaching Assistant of the Year, 2023–2024.
Education
- Claremont Graduate University — PhD, Positive Developmental Psychology (in progress); MA, Positive Developmental Psychology
- Brandeis University — BA, Psychology and Environmental Studies
Contact
I welcome collaboration and inquiries about my work. Please reach out by email or connect through the profiles below.
Positive Psychology Researcher 