Director of Undergraduate Research and Mentoring
Discipline-Based Educational Researcher (DBER)
Little Rock, AR
RESEARCH
Current Research Projects
STEM Inclusion
One of my research aims is to understand STEM inclusion through the lenses of perception and behavior. We seek to understand how students' perceptions of inclusion change and develop over time in their STEM classes and majors. Also, I am interested in uncovering the physical manifestations of inclusion and exclusion in STEM classrooms.
Challenging Interactions in the LA-Supported Classroom​
Another active area of research in my lab is our work with understanding the barriers that learning assistants (LAs) face as they work with students in the classroom. Overcoming these barriers is a challenge for LAs and has the potential the negatively impact their ability to engage with students in the classroom. As we elucidate those barriers, I am interested in developing training that will help LAs develop ways to navigate these challenges and assessing the impact of that training on LAs' interactions with their students.
Past Research Projects
Affect Research
Behavior Research
Other Collaborations
Course-Embed Research Experiences (CURE) in the Life Sciences
I have also done some work on assessing what factors are impacting student persistence across several life science courses. Specifically, we are looking at students motivational factors to see which factors are the best predictors of persistence. Additionally, in attempts to increase persistence, I am part of a team developing new authentic research labs for the life science courses.