Degree & Year in the Program
Fifth year PhD
Advisors
Areas of Specialization
Quantitative Methods, Inequality, Domestic Poverty, Religion
About Me
I am a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. My previous studies include a B.S. in Sociology, a B.S. in Finance, an MBA at Iowa State University and an M.A. in Sociology at UNL. My research interests include inequalities, political sociology, public policy, religion, race, and quantitative methods. My Master’s thesis research examined how political ideology and partisanship affect state welfare program policies and whether those differences affect racial inequalities in welfare cash assistance. My dissertation research focuses on attitudes towards public basic needs programs, looking at question order effects, changes in attitudes over periods and cohorts, and how those attitudes vary by religious affiliation.
I am also pursuing a minor in Quantitative, Qualitative and Psychometric Methods offered through the Department of Educational Psychology. As part of this program, I have taken advanced statistical classes such as Longitudinal Analysis, Structural Equation Modeling, Multilevel Modeling and Data Simulation.
As a Graduate Research Assistant, I work as the senior data analyst for the Bii-Zin-Da-De-Dah Analytic team. The BZDDD Analytic team has collected and is analyzing data on culturally adapted family-centered substance abuse prevention program designed for American Indian families and youth.
As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I taught SOCI 206 – Introduction to Social Statistics via Zoom in Spring 2021. This class focused on developing basic statistical skills such as producing and interpreting descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and bivariate measures of association. In Fall 2016, I served as a recitation instructor to approximately 30 Introduction to Sociology students. The purpose of recitation was to supplement lecture materials by engaging students in class discussions, developing class activities to enhance students’ learning, and highlighting the relevance of sociological principles in everyday life.
I am an active member of the Nebraska Association of Sociology Graduate Students (NASGS) and currently serve as the graduate student representative on the Sociology Graduate Committee. In previous years I have served as Vice President and graduate student representative on the Sociology Resources and Planning Committee.
In addition, I participate in organizations focused on addressing social issues. I volunteer with RESULTS, a movement of passionate, committed, everyday people working together we use our voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty. Also, I am a member of the #unrulysociologists group here at UNL that is composed of graduate and undergraduate students interested in sharing sociological research beyond the realm of academia to help affect change and address social injustices.
Courses Taught
Sociology 101 Recitation
Sociology 206 Introduction to Social Statistics
Other Affiliations
Quantitative, Qualitative, and Psychometric Methods
Comprehensive Exam Area
Quantitative Methods