BACKGROUND
Let’s take a walk through my professional research journey. This is not a list of skills and experiences (you can get that from my CV!). Rather, my goal is to illustrate the path I’ve taken to become the researcher I am today.
KNOX COLLEGE,
B.A. in Psychology & English
My love for research began early. As a teenager, I conducted literature reviews and crowdsourced qualitative data (through Yahoo! message boards, no less) on any subject that I found meaningful – from politics to mental health and more. It wasn’t until I became a research assistant for the Psychology Department at Knox College, however, that I learned my intrinsic passion for research could translate into a career. From submitting ethics proposals to writing up SOPs to analyzing data for my first poster presentations, I loved it all – though it wouldn’t be until graduate school that I truly understood the driving force behind this work.
After college, I opted for an Interdisciplinary Gender Studies degree at DePaul University. I chose this degree path because it had a focus on trauma-informed praxis, qualitative research methodologies, and social impact – all of which inherently resonated with me. I snagged a graduate research assistantship as a second-year, and it was within that role that I finally understood that social impact was driving my passion for research: because for the first time, I saw firsthand that research was a concrete tool to create change in the world around me. And while I didn’t know it yet, my graduate school exposure to qualitative research would have a profound influence on me later on.
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY,
M.A. in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies
YMCA OF THE USA,
Junior Analyst
Immediately after graduate school, I worked as a Junior Analyst at the YMCA of the USA – an organization I’d chosen because of its ability to strengthen communities at an international scale. It was at the Y that I moved into conducting research that could inform operational decision-making at the highest levels. Over time, I managed a suite of social impact-focused projects – including leading the research arm of the Y’s novel LGBTQ+ Inclusion Initiative with a cohort of 20 communities around the country. Through each project, I worked to produce data-informed strategic recommendations that could improve the organization’s internal climate and external outreach – and seeing the changes these recommendations made was truly exhilarating.
Even though I loved my work at the Y, I couldn’t help but feel that something was missing from my skill set. Each time I analyzed a quantitative dataset, I answered the “What” (e.g., “What percentage of our staff members feel engaged at work?”). However, I felt that I was so often missing the “Why?” – and I had learned that qualitative research methods can often readily answer such a call. Thus, I transitioned to Northwestern University in a qualitative-focused role. As a research coordinator at Northwestern, my work wasn’t just about managing the day-to-day logistics of clinical trials – it was about leveraging qualitative analysis to uncover novel insights that could measurably improve the living conditions of others. This experience confirmed that qualitative research resonates most deeply with me because it is often the most meaningfully connected to lived experience – something I always seek to uplift and amplify.
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY,
Research Coordinator
CAPACITY LAB,
Research Specialist
After funding for my NU position ended, I landed at as a Research Specialist in CAPACITY Lab, a qualitative-focused public health lab. I found joy in broadening my qualitative toolkit, gaining exposure to a wide range of methods and methodologies. Each tool felt like a new way of exploring the world, making meaning of patterns, and leveraging those insights to effect change at an increasingly high level. From designing and implementing a novel triage model to support families’ psychosocial needs, to building data-informed strategic recommendations for suicide prevention amongst system-involved youth, the qualitative work our team did (and continues to do!) in CAPACITY Lab is a point of great pride and joy for me, both personally and professionally. All in all, this role challenged me to think deeply about how rigorous qualitative research can inform widespread change while never losing sight of individual lived experience.
Looking back, what I notice most about my journey is not what’s changed over time, but what’s remained consistent. By this, I mean: yes, I’ve changed as a researcher over the years, and so have my research focus areas and the tools I’ve used. But from my 15-year-old self fielding surveys on Yahoo! message boards to the present day qualitative lens I’ve developed, the throughline of my journey is that I have always cared about using my research to tangibly impact others – from the individual-level to entire communities and beyond. This north star has served me well for over a decade – and it will continue to fuel my curiosity, professional growth, and the work I do for many more.
I can’t wait to see where this journey leads next.