I’m currently a Ph.D. student in the Communication and Media program at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I earned my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Psychology, Classic Civilization, and Religious Studies.

As a first-generation, low-income Latina, my identities have informed my advocacy and research in meaningful ways. As a McNair alum, I am motivated to work alongside TRiO scholars as a writing specialist assisting in their academic writing journey (research papers and graduate admission statements). Before starting my doctoral program, I was an AmeriCorps member for Milwaukee Public School high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was my academic and public service endeavors that solidified my research interest in investigating the intersectional relationship between trauma, media, and culture. How does such exposure to traumatic media content (TMC) impact vulnerable populations and the psychophysical consequences that might come from said exposure? My scholarly research into TMC and becoming an aspiring media psychologist has been supported by several DEI/Anti-Racist grants and recently been selected as an NSF-GRP Fellow.

I always like to say I have (and want) one solid foot in humanities (horror, podcast, and digital studies) and social science (mental health, trauma, statistical analysis) that always aims to focus and prioritize racially marginalized voices, narratives, and experiences.