Research Interests: Black Feminist Theory, Queer Theory, Feminist Development, Social Justice Education, Leadership Education and Allyship Development

The goal of my research is to offer theoretical understanding for practical application, thus I am interested in developing programs, initiatives and services that encourage feminist development. In utilizing Black Feminist theory, I hope to center and connect the experiences of all women of color, and both cis, trans and gender queer women in my research. Other research interests include African American and Asian American ethnic identity development, mentoring programs, leadership development and career development.

Select Research Papers

2017

The Ohio State University- Dr. Marc Johnston-Guerrero, College Student Development 1: Psychosocial Theories, LITERATURE REVIEW TITLE: Can I Get Off Stage Now? The Psychological and Developmental Effects of the Model Minority Myth on API Students: This brief literature review speaks to the ways that Model Minority Myth negatively impacts the psychosocial health of Asian students.

The Ohio State University- Dr. Amy Barnes, Group Interventions, PAPER TITLE:  Re-Defining Leadership: This final paper speaks to how I have learned to utilize Black Feminist theory to develop the way I lead and support students.

The Ohio State University- Dr. Jackie Blount, History of Colleges and Universities, PAPER TITLE: To Empower or Divide? Defining Leadership from the Colonial Era to WWII: This paper was written to answer the following prompt, “One reason long offered to justify higher education is that it prepares individuals to become leaders in our society. As you consider the history of higher education from the colonial era to WWII, do you agree with this view? If so, how have higher education institutions produced leaders? How successful have they been? If not, why not?”

The Ohio State University- Dr. Jackie Blount, History of Colleges and Universities, PAPER TITLE: Fists in the Air: Black Student Activism in the 1960s & the 2010s: This paper compares and contrasts the Black Campus Movement in the 1960s with the Black Lives Matter student activist network of the 2010s.

Rutgers University- Camden- Dr. Aaron Hostetter, Senior Seminar- Consumption, PAPER TITLE: No, No, No: The Struggle for a Supreme Consciousness in Jordan Peele’s Get Out: Utilizing Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit, I explore the struggle for a dominant consciousness in the film through the context of American critical race theory.

2016

Rutgers University- Camden- Dr. Keith Green, Senior Seminar, Autobiography of The Self, PAPER TITLE: “The Black Woman’s Burden: Embodying and Escaping the Myth“: In this paper, I hope to explore the ways that black women in Harriet Jacob’s 1861 Incidents in the Life Of A Slave Girl and Beyonce’s 2016 album Lemonade verbalize their pain through the use of masking and myth.

2015

Rutgers University- Camden- Dr. Ellen Ledoux, Gender and  Sexuality in Anglo-American Literature; PAPER TITLE- Mythological Circles: Female Community Influence in Zami: This paper explores the various ways that communities of women act as muses, sages and guides in Audre Lorde’s biomythography “Zami.” These women construct Lorde’s beliefs surrounding language, blackness and sexuality.

Rutgers University- Camden- Dr. Chris Fitter, Shakespeare; PAPER TITLE: Women in Shakespeare: Highly Intelligent, Morally Centered and Unappreciated– Many position Shakespeare as a sexist, who disrespects women. In this paper, I argue that Shakespeare’s view of women can be best understood by the way he depicts men in his plays; the women, in contrast to the often evil, often morally corrupt, men are both clever and ethical.

2014

Rutgers University- Camden- Presented at the Buffy to Batgirl Conference; PAPER TITLE: Female Protagonists in Bluebeard: The Constructed Modern Woman and Her Bloody Chamber– Angela Carter is one of my favorite authors, and I am intrigued by her ability to explore and rewrite fairy tales that are visceral and complex. This paper contrasts the female protagonists in Carter’s Bloody Chamber and Charles Perrault’s Bluebeard.