Why did you choose graduate school at IU Indianapolis?
I primarily chose to study at IU Indianapolis because of the great fit with my mentor, Dr. Jesse Stewart. Additionally, I was drawn to the amazing clinical research conducted on campus and the collaborative culture among researchers at IU. The varied practicum and training opportunities, along with the ability to work with diverse patient populations, were also compelling factors.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
My favorite academic accomplishment has been traveling to Brighton, UK, to present a project at the 2024 meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. As co-chair of their LGBTQ+ Health special interest group, I had the opportunity to run events and present data from an interventional clinical trial my lab completed, focusing on symptom-level intervention effects in depression. Additionally, my trip was made possible by the James D. Fielding Advocacy and Leadership Award, a generous scholarship funded by an IU Alum, which I was honored to receive.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
What I enjoy most about life in Indianapolis is the welcoming local community. I love knowing my neighbors and being part of such a friendly environment. The restaurant scene is great, and the local music scene is fantastic.
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
As a researcher, I study the relationship between insomnia, executive function, and depression, as well as health disparities in cardiometabolic disease, especially for LGBTQ+ folks. I am also fortunate to be a collaborator and co-author on several other projects focusing on health disparities, cardiometabolic disease, sleep, and depression.
As a volunteer, I have been an executive board member of the graduate student group Graduate OUT in STEM (GoSTEM) for several years, organizing professional development events to connect LGBTQ+ graduate and professional students on campus. Additionally, I have volunteered with Indiana Youth Group for the past several years.