Education and training
I'm proud to say that this little, small-town girl from a working-class family grew up to earn the first Ph.D. in her family—with a full boat from an Ivy League school, no less! My doctorate degree is in education research, evaluation, and measurement, and I also have a masters in social psychology.
I have worked as a social scientist and a professional evaluator since 1990 with individuals across the lifespan, from toddlers to senior citizens. My mission, as a professional, is to positively impact society by helping people learn the most effective ways to communicate and convey information to others. One of the best parts of my job is coaching a diverse group of early- and mid-career evaluators. This enables me to share what I've learned with other women—including and especially women of color—who are still, on average, earning less than their male counterparts in the field.
I am equally proud to report that I am certified in trauma-informed coaching and I am a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ . My volunteer work enables me to give back to my community, empowering low-income women to develop their financial literacy skills in a supportive and trauma-informed setting.
Please note that I am not a licensed clinical therapist. I encourage anyone who has lived through trauma or abuse to seek the help of a therapist they can trust.
sanity over secrets
One of the themes underlying my personal journey so far is sanity over secrets.
We know from the trauma literature that we can't truly break generational cycles of abuse until we stop keeping secrets. Dysfunction and toxicity thrive on secrets. Secrets enable abusers to continue destroying their victims because they learn they can get away with almost anything, and no one will hold them accountable. Secrets demoralize victims because when victims are prevented from discussing their abuse, they feel shame and responsibility for their own abuse, forcing them to continue suffering in silence. Secrets are the fuel that keeps the cycle of abuse churning.