Assistant Professor of Psychology and Organizational Studies
she/her
About
I examine the psychology of poverty and inequality, as well as their remedies. My research seeks to uncover social psychological processes that undermine the economic mobility of people in poverty and simultaneously depress public will to address inequality, perpetuating systems of poverty and inequality. Yet, I show how brief social psychological interventions can interrupt these systems. Specifically, my research reveals how attending to culturally specific forms of agency and motivation can promote both social inclusion (e.g., status, dignity, social support) and economic inclusion (e.g., economic mobility, support for redistributive policies). In other words, my research aims to identify drivers of social and cultural inclusion, economic equity, and their interactions. In this work, I conduct lab and field experiments in the US and low- and middle-income countries, including in partnership with nonprofits and governments and with interdisciplinary teams.
For prospective Ph.D. students: I will be reviewing applications this cycle for grad students interested in joining my lab in Fall 2024. The UM application deadline is Dec 1. My lab would be a good fit for people interested in: (1) studying topics like poverty, inequality, social class, and culture, (2) intervention science / behavioral science, (3) interdisciplinary research, and (4) conducting field research.
