Child psychologist and children’s book author
Duke Preparation: “Through volunteering at George Watts Elementary and at the Emily K Center, as well as a DukeEngage trip I took to Urubamba, Peru, the summer after my freshman year, I was exposed to the importance of teamwork and community service. I learned that when a few people work together as a cohesive team, they can make a real difference in the lives of children and inspire those children to become future leaders in their communities. My research in Dr. Makeba Wilbourn’s lab on child development and language learning solidified my interest in child psychology and normative child development and made me want to learn more about developmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder. For my senior project, Dr. Wilbourn somehow trusted me to bring 50 18-month-old children into the lab so we could learn more about their language development and gesture use. Her academic guidance and her confidence in me gave me confidence in myself to eventually pursue my Ph.D. in clinical psychology.”
The Future: “I see myself as someone who is always striving for improvement, which includes staying curious about others’ perspectives and experiences. One of my hopes is that I can make a positive impact on my family, friends and other community members during my lifetime.”
Fun Fact: She started a running club for neurodivergent youth called Pacers.