Research
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I have broad interests in researching sociocultural learning and creative cognition, with a focus on the use of qualitative methods, in an effort to improve pedagogical practices. Some of my current research involves identifying a core set of metacognitive and cognitive skills or processes that support creative thinking within the greater act of creativity. Specifically, I was interested in how faculty members present, instruct on, and assess these skills. Future research will focus on how faculty members can develop and promote an identity of Creative Problem Solver in such a way as to support and promote this skill for their undergraduate students.
Additionally, I conduct research focused on better understanding the Culture of Assessment in higher education. Specifically, I am interested in how faculty members develop, engage with, and transmit attitudes and beliefs about assessment. In particular, I am interested in how faculty engagement with the assessment process influences graduate students who will become part of the future professoriate. |
Research Interests |
Graduate Research |
Academic Program Review: Examining the Experiences of Faculty Members Serving as Internal Peer Reviewers
2018 Virginia Tech Assessment & Evaluation within the Office of Academic Decision Support Co-Authors: Dr. Katherine Snead Biddle and Dr. Molly Hall Collecting and analyzing qualitative data to explore the experiences of faculty members serving as internal peer reviewers for Academic Program Review. Scholarly paper presented at VAG in Charlottesville, VA November 2018 Associated paper under review for publication in Research & Practice in Assessment. Assessing Creative Cognition
2016 Virginia Tech Educational Research & Educational Psychology Advisors: Dr. David Kniola & Dr. Danielle Lusk Creation of a website exploring the meaning and processes of creativity, with a focus on the Creative Cognition theory, and an examination of how to begin assessing creativity. Click here to see the website Realizing Value: An Extension of Experiential Learning Design
2015 Virginia Tech Educational Research Advisor: Dr. Penny Burge Qualitative project highlighting the direct learning experiences of adults engaged in personal food production for fun, profit, or service. Click here to see the poster Tattoo Artists: Maintaining a Community of Practice Through Sociocultural Learning
2014 Virginia Tech Educational Psychology Advisor: Dr. Danielle Lusk Qualitative project examining the role of apprenticeships and social learning towards the continuation of tattoo artists interacting as a community of practice. Click here to read the abstract |
Honors Undergraduate Research
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Replicating the Social Hierarchy: Racial Identity and Sexual Orientation
2004 - 2005 UNC - CH Sociology Advisors: Dr. Sherryl Kleinman & Dr. Matthew Ezzell Qualitative project highlighting how the experiences of LGBTQ individuals of color served to replicate inequality within the social hierarchy on campus. |
Undergraduate Research |
Cognitive Dissonance and Gender Ambiguity
2005 UNC - CH Psychology Advisors: Faculty Quantitative project measuring the differences in completion times of cognitive tasks presented following either gender standard or gender ambiguous photos. Blau Space: Mapping the Niches of Support for Capital Punishment and Abortion Rights
2004 UNC - CH Sociology Advisors: Faculty Theoretical project exploring the concept of Blau Space utilizing niches created by individuals supporting capital punishment and those who identified as pro-life. |
