I’m a five-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology ​program. My advisor is Dr. Nathan Smith. I am a native Houstonian, and received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Health from the University of Houston. I went on to receive my Masters in Health Education from Texas State University, and worked as a Perinatal HIV Epidemiologist at the City of Houston for a few years before transitioning into the field of psychology. I pursued a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, yet I was accepted to my doctoral program before I could complete the degree. My research interests encompass anything in the realm of sexually transmitted infections, especially HIV and HPV, minority stress, women’s health, and the LGBTQ community. I am currently at the Houston Veterans Administration in the Medical Center working with patients who suffer from PTSD and/or serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar, severe depression. This experience has definitely opened up my eyes to new possibilities and has peaked my clinical and research interest.

Whenever I can muster up free time, I enjoy spending it with my fiancé, family, and friends. We love to travel, cook, bake, and go on constant food adventures.