Our research teams conducted two studies: Nurturing Healthy Teachers (NHT) is a teacher wellness program focused on improving mental health, nutrition, and food security among elementary school teachers. The Financial Coaching Pilot (FCP) aims to reduce stress and improve weight outcomes by combining financial coaching and nutrition programs.• Led all aspects of project management across 2 research projects including project tracking, task management, study protocol development, and… Show more Our research teams conducted two studies: Nurturing Healthy Teachers (NHT) is a teacher wellness program focused on improving mental health, nutrition, and food security among elementary school teachers. The Financial Coaching Pilot (FCP) aims to reduce stress and improve weight outcomes by combining financial coaching and nutrition programs.• Led all aspects of project management across 2 research projects including project tracking, task management, study protocol development, and people management• Coordinated efforts between 27 UTHealth and partner organization representatives, including the recruitment, hiring, training, and direct management of 3 research assistants and 19 data collectors• Led recruitment of 450 teachers at 30 schools for the NHT study, and 50 parent-child dyads for the FCP study• Developed and implemented survey measures and detailed biometric measurement protocols (weight, blood pressure, HbA1c, Veggie Meter, hair cortisol, cognitive testing, etc.) as part of school-based data collection efforts.• Led all data collection and management using RedCap Show less

Our research team conducted two Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) grant-funded research projects assessing the barriers and facilitators to participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federal food program which reimburses early care and education programs for providing nutritious meals to low-income children. • Managed eight-person research team, leading recruitment, hiring, and training of research assistants• Conducted 113 qualitative interviews and… Show more Our research team conducted two Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) grant-funded research projects assessing the barriers and facilitators to participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federal food program which reimburses early care and education programs for providing nutritious meals to low-income children. • Managed eight-person research team, leading recruitment, hiring, and training of research assistants• Conducted 113 qualitative interviews and administered 120 surveys to childcare providers, CACFP sponsors, and stakeholders across four states• Developed and maintained recruitment, research, and project tracking documents/processes including consent forms, interview guides, Gantt charts, logic models, tracking spreadsheets, and Asana task management• Led quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis efforts using Qualtrics, Stata, and Atlas.ti• Managed IRB documentation and $88,000 in grant budgets• Developed manuscript• Hosted webinar with 93 state and national sponsors/stakeholders. Presented findings at two national convenings, sharing policy and process recommendations to increase childcare program participation in CACFP Show less

ROI is a community organization focused on ending generational cycles of trauma and poverty by fostering resilience and promoting trauma-informed approaches in public institutions in rural Eastern North Carolina. • Managed a four-person student research team in conducting a process evaluation of ROI’s Resilient Leaders Initiative, the first ever cohort-based capacity-building accelerator program for rural public institutions such as schools, court houses, and churches to become more… Show more ROI is a community organization focused on ending generational cycles of trauma and poverty by fostering resilience and promoting trauma-informed approaches in public institutions in rural Eastern North Carolina. • Managed a four-person student research team in conducting a process evaluation of ROI’s Resilient Leaders Initiative, the first ever cohort-based capacity-building accelerator program for rural public institutions such as schools, court houses, and churches to become more trauma-informed• Led interview guide development, recruitment, and interviewing of 23 program facilitators, coaches, and participants• Led qualitative data analysis using Atlas.ti• Developed manuscript and provided strategic recommendations for program improvement Show less

Within the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Go NAPSACC (National & Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care) works with 6,000+ childcare providers to improve the health of more than 300,000+ young children through practices, policies, and environments that instill habits supporting lifelong health and wellbeing.• Conducted a systematic literature review on early childhood social and emotional development (SED) research, practice, and policy documents to… Show more Within the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Go NAPSACC (National & Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care) works with 6,000+ childcare providers to improve the health of more than 300,000+ young children through practices, policies, and environments that instill habits supporting lifelong health and wellbeing.• Conducted a systematic literature review on early childhood social and emotional development (SED) research, practice, and policy documents to compile a list of ‘best practices’ for Go NAPSACC to utilize in the development of their SED training module for childcare providers• Developed and administered a Qualtrics survey to Go NAPSACC technical assistant consultants in 20 states to identify what resources and training would be beneficial in their efforts to support childcare providers • Analyzed quantitative and qualitative survey data from respondents in 20 states, synthesizing and presenting key findings to Go NAPSACC team and making recommendations for program improvement Show less

• Supervised and taught children ages 6 weeks to 12 years in this 200+ student educational childcare center• Assisted with general operations including event planning, filing, and kitchen/office related tasks

• Co-taught 35 children ages 4 to 13 in one of Omaha’s most under-resourced communities• Designed and facilitated activities to foster 21st century skill development• Tailored engagement, discipline, and classroom management strategies based on the psychology of toxic stress and resiliency

Zume is a silicon Valley food-tech startup utilizing robotics and supply-chain logistics technology to increase food access and provide healthy, affordable, and delicious food to all. • Solely responsible for writing the company's first comprehensive sustainability report outlining the food system sustainability challenges facing the world today and providing socially and environmentally relevant recommendations to be considered for implementation. The report analyzed current office… Show more Zume is a silicon Valley food-tech startup utilizing robotics and supply-chain logistics technology to increase food access and provide healthy, affordable, and delicious food to all. • Solely responsible for writing the company's first comprehensive sustainability report outlining the food system sustainability challenges facing the world today and providing socially and environmentally relevant recommendations to be considered for implementation. The report analyzed current office, sourcing, kitchen, delivery, and marketing practices• Identified and prioritized key performance indicators and sustainability initiatives based on the potential impact of/effort required for implementation• Presented findings and recommendations to members of the finance, operations, marketing, and technology teams, the CEOs and founders, and members of the board. Among the many recommendations that were implemented, improving the algorithm used for inventory planning and demand forecasting ultimately dramatically reduced food waste, saved the company money, reduced required worker time and effort, and improved the sustainability of company operations Show less

• Worked directly with the founder in the development of her book and TED talk addressing the importance of fostering 21st century skills in early childhood and their application across the lifespan. The book has since been broadly distributed, from the World Bank and U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the World Forum on Early Childhood. The TED talk has over half a million views• Assisted in content research and review and supported the presentation of materials at multiple national and global… Show more • Worked directly with the founder in the development of her book and TED talk addressing the importance of fostering 21st century skills in early childhood and their application across the lifespan. The book has since been broadly distributed, from the World Bank and U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the World Forum on Early Childhood. The TED talk has over half a million views• Assisted in content research and review and supported the presentation of materials at multiple national and global conferences Show less