San Francisco State University, Master of Arts in Research Psychology

Enrollment dates : January – Present

Coursework includes: Statistical Analysis for Psychological Research (A)

GPA: 4.0

Advisor: Dr. David E. Gard



Brandman University, Non-degree seeking, Psychology

Enrollment dates : January – May 2011

Coursework includes: Theories of Personality (A), Cognitive Psychology (A), Abnormal Psychology (A), and Scientific Writing for Behavioral Social Sciences (A).

GPA: 4.0



Arizona State University, MEd in Secondary Education, Concentration in Mathematics

Graduation date : May 2010

Coursework included: Educational Assessment (A), Introduction to Research and Evaluation in Education (A), Learning and Instruction (A), and Applied Project (A).

GPA: 3.84

Action Research Title: “How can dynamic math study groups remediate students’ limited basic computational skills?”

Supervisor: David P. Roberts



Arizona State University, B.I.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Concentrations in Psychology and Education

Graduation date : May 2008

Coursework included: Introduction to Psychological Research (A), Introductory Psychological Statistics (A), Adolescent Psychology (A+), Cross-Cultural Psychology (A-), Educational Psychology (A+), Effective Thinking (A), Independent Psychological Research (A), Learning and Motivation (A), Social Psychology (A), and Sociology (A).

GPA: 3.90, Major GPA: 4.00

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Title: "Mastering math: An innovative new guide for a timeless instructional method."

Supervisor: Dr. Jill Oliver

Graduate Research Assistant, Motivation and Emotion Research Laboratory

December 2010 – Present

San Francisco State University, Graduate Psychology Department

Principal Investigator: Dr. David Gard

This laboratory focuses on emotion and motivation in the general population, with findings applied to individuals with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. I am currently assisting in a study investigating motivation, goal-directed behavior, and home environments of schizophrenia patients using ecological momentary assessment methodology. My responsibilities include coding qualitative home assessments, conducting home assessments, conducting phone interviews, conducting clinical interviews, conducting psychological and neuropsychological assessments (SCID, etc.), data entry, and preliminary data analysis. Additionally, I am beginning to spearhead two studies involving depression, anxiety, and environmental control.



Research Assistant, Applied Psychology Research Laboratory

December 2010 – May 2011

San Francisco State University, Graduate Psychology Department

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kathleen Mosier

This research laboratory examines decision making in various applied and professional settings, including work for NASA and the San Francisco Police Department. I am assisting a study focusing on affect and decision making with automation, looking at factors of complexity and accountability. Responsibilities include interacting with participants, collecting data by running participants through the study, and data entry.



Lead Research Assistant, Dr. Barry Leshowitz

August 2007 – May 2008

Arizona State University, Psychology Department

Principal Investigator: Dr. Barry Leshowitz

This laboratory focused on effective thinking in decision making and higher-order thinking, focusing on strengthening cognitive processes underlying problem solving and decision-making in everyday life situations. We were training undergraduate students in analytical thinking for application, by identifying problems, forming hypotheses, finding evidence, and reaching conclusions. My role as lead research assistant was to develop a timeline and schedule for the other two research assistants, monitor the productivity of the research assistants, and to analyze and re-write online data and course discussions for Dr. Leshowitz to write a textbook based on his revolutionary and inventive course.



Research Intern, Andes and Amazon Field School

June 2007 – July 2007

Arizona State University’s Field site in Ecuador, Interdisciplinary Studies Department

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tod Swanson

The primary goal of my research internship was to develop a small-scale, independent research project that could be presented by comparing and contrasting the Bilingual Education system in Ecuador and the United States. The research I developed was a comparison study through the use of analyzing and compiling research articles, and interviewing key stake-holders in both Ecuador and Arizona.



Research Assistant, Operant Behavioral Conditioning Laboratory

January 2007 – May 2007

Arizona State University, Psychology Department

Principal Investigator: Dr. Peter Killeen

This research laboratory studied the cognitive, memory, and behavioral processes of pigeons and rats for application of human cognitive processes. I assisted the research on the spontaneous hypertensive rat model of ADHD, and the “launching effect” of pigeons tracking motion towards a reward. My responsibilities included data entry, maintaining the health of the rats and pigeons, and running the rats through the study.



Research Assistant, Social Cognition Laboratory

January 2006 – December 2006

Arizona State University, Psychology Department

Principal Investigator: Dr. Robert Cialdini

This laboratory focused on influence and persuasion, particularly on the perspective of the self and facial recognition as an influence. I assisted with the research for the “Spotlight Effect,” in which people tend to assume their features and behaviors are more salient to others than what they actually are. Responsibilities included interacting with patients, running patients through studies, utilizing EEGs, and entering data.

Teacher, Glendale Elementary School District / Teach for America

June 2008 – May 2010

Taught remedial, general, and advanced seventh grade mathematics to over 100 students. Analyzed and rewrote the seventh grade mathematics curricula, benchmark assessments, lesson planning guides, and pacing guides for the district. Founding member of the district Math Committee to create common assessments, analyze data, and make district-wide instructional decisions. Developed long-term and unit plans and assessments to be distributed by Teach for America. Developed and taught a professional development seminar for first-year teachers.



Lead Teaching Assistant, PGS 304 Effective Thinking

August 2007 – May 2008

Arizona State University, Psychology Department

Instructor: Dr. Barry Leshowitz

Lead teaching assistant (4 teaching assistants, 32 students) for Effective Thinking. Designed BlackBoard webpage, led student small-group and whole-group discussions, and graded assignments and assessments.

Rookie Teacher of the Year, Glendale Elementary School District August 2008 – May 2009

summa cum laude            May 2008

Barrett Honors College graduate August 2004 – May 2008

Phi Kappa Phi August 2007 – May 2008

President’s Scholarship, Arizona State University August 2004 – May 2008

Dean’s List, Arizona State University    August 2004 – May 2008 (all semesters)

Self-Employed/Contracted, Oakland, CA   September 2010 – Present

Private Math Tutor

Phoenix Collegiate Academy, Phoenix, AZ  June 2010 – July 2010

Summer School Math and Science Teacher

Bethune Elementary School, Phoenix, AZ   January 2008 – May 2008

Science is Fun! After-school Instructor

Carson Junior High, Mesa, AZ      July 2007 – June 2008

AVID Tutor; Mentor

Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Chandler, AZ August 2006 – June 2007

Math Tutor

Top Flight Flag Football, Gilbert, AZ   August 2004 – December 2006

Volunteer Cheer Coach Girls 12-14

Motivation and goal-directed behavior in patients with depression; anxiety, stress, and coping mechanisms in adolescents; clinical interviewing; psychological and neuropsychological assessment

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)

Quality of Life Scale (QLS)

Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB)

General Causality Orientations Scale (GCOS)

Modified General Causality Orientations Scale (GCOS-X)

Teach for America; 2008 Phoenix corps member

American Educational Research Association [AERA]; Graduate student membership; November 2008 - present

American Psychological Association; Graduate student membership; November 2010 - present

Association for Psychological Science; Graduate student membership; November 2010 - present

NIH Protecting Human Research Participants Certification (current)

VA Certified Volunteer (current)

NIH Animal Care and Use Certification (expired in 2009)

Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, SPSS, basic Spanish, internet research, data analysis, planning, strong analytical skills, 80 WPM, excellent writing skills, laboratory research skills (EEG, computer data analysis, animal research laboratory, interviewing and assessments), project planning, clinical interviewing, psychological and neuropsychological assessment