You earned a master’s degree in human development and family sciences at Auburn in 2022. Can you tell us about your master’s thesis on mother-infant interactions?
My thesis, titled “I SEE You,” examined how mothers and their 6-month-old infants share emotional experiences during free play — particularly whether play with or without toys affected the quality of their interaction. Under the guidance of Dr. Cynthia Frosch, I developed a novel coding system to measure moments of shared emotional experiences, offering a glimpse into a growing field of what parents might need to know when interacting with their babies.
Studying those early interactions helped me understand how foundational relationships set the stage for later mental health.
As a current Ph.D. student at Auburn, you’re conducting research on policies that impact children’s mental health care. How did you choose this area to study, and what are you finding?
Before graduate school, I worked directly with children and families facing acute mental health challenges, including serving as a special education teacher on an inpatient psychiatric unit. That experience shaped my understanding of how hard families work to get help — and how often systems let them down. I saw firsthand how isolated and unsupported families can feel during crisis points.
At Auburn, I’ve been able to take a systems-level view, using qualitative methods to examine how policy shapes what families actually experience when they seek care. I’m finding that even well-meaning organizations often lack the policy infrastructure to consistently engage families. But I’m also seeing opportunities — to revise policies, train staff differently and build services that reflect the full context of a child’s life.
My current research involves interviewing couples who are primary caregivers for adolescents who have experienced psychiatric hospitalization. Through these in-depth interviews, I’m seeking to understand:
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The institutional support caregivers receive during discharge.
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The guidance they are given to manage their child’s transition back home.
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How caregivers make sensitive decisions about disclosing their child’s mental health condition to others to access support.
This research also explores how stigma around adolescent mental health conditions can prevent families from seeking help, even when support services are available.
Ultimately, my goal is to inform policies and practices that better support adolescents and families during this critical transition. By centering on caregivers’ lived experiences, I hope to guide mental health providers and policymakers in developing more effective, family-centered approaches that promote successful reintegration and long-term wellbeing for youth.
You’ve also served as a graduate student ambassador. What has that involved, and how has that experience enhanced your time at Auburn?
Serving as a graduate student ambassador has been a meaningful part of my Auburn experience. It has given me a platform to support incoming and current graduate students, especially those navigating interdisciplinary interests or unconventional paths. It has also deepened my appreciation for Auburn’s commitment to graduate education.
The ambassador experience helped me feel more rooted — and it’s been a way to give back to a university that has invested so much in my development.
What are your future plans once you’ve achieved your goal of earning your Ph.D.?
After earning my Ph.D., I plan to continue working at the intersection of research, policy and practice to improve mental health systems for children and families. Whether through a research center, a policy institute or cross-sector partnerships, I want to keep driving change that is grounded in families’ lived experiences.
I’m passionate about supporting families during transitions — whether that’s recognizing a child’s concern, entering psychiatric hospitalization or returning to school after crisis. I believe in research that informs action and in using that research to build systems that are compassionate, coordinated and centered on relationships.
My goal is to ensure families have what they need — not just to survive crises, but to truly thrive.
