research project coordinator in the institute of sexual and gender minority health and wellbeing at northwestern university. working on 2GETHER, a couples-based healthy relationship intervention to help reduce risk and transmission of HIV. proponent of harm reduction, and an advocate for behavioral and biomedical risk reduction options.

phd in health communication through the university of new mexico. the dissertation project focused on transgender and gender non-conforming people's perceptions of their health and wellness.

research interests include queer and trans health equity, social determinants of health, and communication for social change. research methodologies highlight feminist and community-based approaches.

former research program coordinator at the chicago center for HIV elimination out of the university of chicago. wrote and was awarded CDC / NIH grant 1U01PS005143-01, "insurance coverage expansion (ICE): a collaboration to increase and strengthen access to care among men and their networks." the ICE intervention leverages existing HIV testing structures and longstanding community collaboration with black men who have sex with men to implement health insurance navigation and enrollment at the time of HIV testing.

former research assistant at the behavioral health research center of the southwest, an office of the pacific institute for research and evaluation. worked on a peer advocacy pilot program for lgbtq folks in rural new mexico, increasing access to mental health and substance use / abuse services.

former transgender policy, inclusion, and equity coordinator at the UNM lgbtq resource center. laid ground work for the institution-wide adoption of the preferred name policy.

former instructor of record for multimedia and visual communication, public speaking, and non-verbal communication in the department of communication and journalism at UNM.

former co-investigator on a HRSA-funded service needs and assessment project for federally supported HIV/AIDS clinics across the NM. specialty is in qualitative data collection and analysis, as well as community based participatory research (CBPR).

personal interests include loving hard and playing in the dirt.