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Research & Design Portfolio

I research and design for play, for joy, and for holistic experiences

that bring people together through arts, culture, and intentional design.

Specializations

mixed methods action research. design thinking. organizational change

practitioner inquiry. relational design. stakeholder driven change.

bridging school-community-university.

Discover groundbreaking projects in inclusive education and community empowerment. From reshaping STEM education to addressing public health disparities, I'm driving change through innovative research.

Funded Research & Community Initiatives

Interdisciplinary Research on Educational Inclusivity, Intersectionality, and Formative Experiences of Belonging:

 

Creating a Thriving Inclusive Teen Ecosystem: An Action Research Project

  • Role: Grant Writer, Director, & Evaluator

  • Funding: $900,000 from the Jim Joseph Foundation & The Jewish Foundation

  • Duration: December 2020 - Present

Action Research Project: Designing a Fellowship for Interfaith Trans & Queer Young Adults

  • Role: Grant Writer, Curriculum Developer, & Lead Facilitator

  • Funding: $25,000 from Upstart's Collaboratory Challenge Grant

  • Duration: December 2022 - 2023

 

“Where Do I Belong?”: A Youth Participatory Action Research Project by Multifaith LatinX & LGBTQIA+ Young People Resulting in the Development of the ish Garage

  • Role: Grant Writer, Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist, & Lead Facilitator

  • Funding: $2,000 from Women Helping Women, Cincinnati

  • Duration: May 2021 - 2023

 

"Be About It, Love is a Practice": A Youth Participatory Action Research Photovoice Exhibit on Stories of Relationships & Belonging of Teens

  • Role: Grant Writer, Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist, & Lead Facilitator

  • Funding: $2,000 by Women Helping Women

  • Duration: January 2023

Empowering Voices Against Violence: A 'Black Lives Matter' Youth Participatory Action Research Initiative on Gun Violence & Police Brutality in Cincinnati

  • Role: Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist

  • Duration: June 2016 to August 2016

Research in STEM/STEAM Education:

Study to Assess Impact of Computational Thinking for Adolescents in Out-Of-School-Time STEAM Programming

  • Roles: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

  • Funding: $1,900 from University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant

  • Duration: February 2019 - 2020

 

Digital Playscape: STEAM Center for Social Impact in Greater Cincinnati Area

  • Roles: Grant Writer, Co-Director, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

  • Funding: $15,000 from the People's Liberty Globe Grant

  • Duration: November 2018 - August 2019

 

Digital Dimensions in Education: Integrating VR & AR within a 6th Grade STEAM Curriculum Aligned to Ohio State Standards

  • Role: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

  • Funding: $4,000 from the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative

  • Duration: June 2018 - August 2018

 

Shadows and Algorithms: AI-Driven Shade Structure Redesign for 7th Grade STEAM Integration, in Partnership with Cincinnati Zoo & Aligned to Ohio State Standards

  • Role: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

  • Funding: $3,800 from the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative

  • Duration: June 2018 - August 2018

 

Integrating Raspberry Pi Programming into 7th Grade STEAM Curriculum Aligned with Ohio State Standard

  • Role: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

  • Funding: $4,000 from the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative

  • Duration: June 2018 - August 2018

 

Leveraging VR & AR for Social Change in Multidisciplinary Middle School Curriculum 

  • Roles: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

  • Funding: $2,000 from University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Grant

  • Duration: June 2017 - August 2017

 

Empowering Cultural Sustainability in High School Education: A YPAR Approach Using AI and Poetry in the 'Breakthrough Cincinnati TRIBE' Curriculum

  • Roles: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

  • Funding: $2,000 from University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant

  • Duration: June 2017 - August 2017

Research in Educational Practices & Professional Development:

Studying Learning Trajectories of Educators in Professional Development: A Practitioner Action Research Study

  • Role: Co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Miriam Raider-Roth

  • Funding: Mandel Teacher Educator Institute

  • Duration: October 2019 - Present

Building Bridges in the Virtual Classroom: Pre-Service Teachers Investigating Relationship-Building Practices with Learners Online During COVID in a Summer Academic Enrichment Program

  • Role: Principal Investigator

  • Funding: $4,000 from University of Cincinnati’s various grants

  • Duration: May 2019 - 2022

Two Programs Across the Country: Research & Reflection Partnership with Tisch Fellowship & ish's Emerging Artist Fellowship

  • Role: Learning Partner with Tisch Fellowship

  • Funding: $10,000 from Upstart's Spring Partnership Grant

  • Duration: November 2021 - 2022

Research in Community & Public Health:

National Academy of Medicine Art Exhibit on Clinician Resilience: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine's (UCCM) Culture of Resiliency Study

  • Role: Participatory Arts-based Research Method Consultant

  • Project: Studied UCCM's culture of resiliency using a participatory arts-based research method

  • Duration: February 2020

Capturing the Food Environment of Low-Income Mothers

  • Role: Photovoice Co-Facilitator & Research Assistant

  • Funding: $13,000 from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Grant

  • Duration: November 2015 to January 2016

Youth Built Change: Public Health Disparities Impacting Youth in Cincinnati

  • Role: Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist, trained 40 high school students in youth participatory action research methodology

  • Funding: National Institute of Health’s Science Education Partnership Award

  • Duration: May 2018 - December 2018


 

Research in Early Education, Special Education, & Inclusion:

Photovoice with Preschoolers: A Teacher Action Research Project

  • Role: Action Researcher & Grant Writer

  • Funding: $2,000 from University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant

  • Duration: August 2015 to May 2016

Exclusion within Inclusion: Social Experiences of Preschoolers with IEPs

  • Role: Principal Investigator & Grant Writer

  • Funding: $1,800 from Arlitt Best Practices in Teaching Research Grant

  • Duration: October 2014 - May 2015

Using Big Data to Track Arlitt Student Kindergarten Success

  • Role: Research Assistant & Grant Writer

  • Funding: $3,000 from Arlitt Best Practices in Teaching Research Grant

  • Duration: September 2014 to May 2016

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