I’m a social psychologist and applied researcher dedicated to fostering safety, belonging, and voice within communities.

My PhD work focused on the dynamics of conflict: exploring how identity, moral concerns, and misperceptions drive political divisions and escalate tension, particularly as they impact marginalized communities. My research interests spanned from the personal level—analyzing why disagreements become intractable—to the ecological level, understanding how media, technology, and political incentives reinforce polarization.

I now translate this evidence-based foundation into action at PARC@LMU with the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, supporting crucial local community violence intervention initiatives. My work involves integrating large-scale data systems to guide complex evaluations, executed in close collaboration with community members, stakeholders, and city officials. My core commitment is to transform rigorous research into actionable insights that honor the lived experiences and promote the resilience of communities most affected by violence and inequity.

Beyond my applied research, I explore themes of conflict and belonging through my writing, with plans for a future book project. I’m interested in how names, labels, and narratives—often shaped by others—can obscure as much as they reveal, and how people learn to assert meaning and voice anyway.

Outside of work, I enjoy watching and performing comedy and spending time with my two cats, Lottie and Leo, who remain unimpressed by all of it.