bio

I am an Associate Professor of General Experimental Psychology in the Department of Psychology (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences) at California State University, Monterey Bay. I teach courses in research methodology, experimental design, and statistics.

My research blends cognitive science and social psychology in the realms of spatial cognition and human depiction in popular media. I currently have two lines of research. The first line aims to better understand how people think about and use physical space in the realm of social relationships and interactions. The second examines how visual depictions of the human body, in various media, influence perceptions of physical and intellectual abilities. I have published in the areas of social distance, language use, human gesture, sexism in the media, as well as judgment and decision making.

I hold an A.A. in Liberal Studies from the College of the Sequoias, a B.A. and M.A. in Experimental Psychology from California State University, Fresno, and both an M.S. in Social and Cognitive Sciences and a Ph.D. in Cognitive and Information Sciences from University of California, Merced.

I am a first-generation college graduate, and was born and raised in California’s central San Joaquin Valley.

Current Appointment

  • Associate Professor of General Experimental Psychology (CSUMB)
  • Board Member (Public seat), Dental Hygiene Board of California
  • Associate Editor for Social Psychology, Collabra: Psychology
  • Subject Matter Expert, Monterey County Department of Human Resources

Education

University Service

  • Chair, Psychology Department Curriculum Committee (2022 – 23)
  • Elected Member, CSUMB Honorary Degree Committee (2022 – 23)
  • Elected Member, CSUMB Senate Appeals and Grievances Committee (2021 – 23)
  • Planning Committee Member & Judge, Central California Research Symposium (2014 – )

Community Service

  • Employment Screening Subject Matter Expert for the Monterey County Civil Rights Office (2019 – )

Awards

  • 2020 CSUMB Academic Senate Faculty Award for Excellence in Professional Application

For a copy of my CV → click here

For a list of my favorite restaurants in California → click here


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