Ph.D. Urban Education, minor in STEM and Special Education

Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?

This was easy choice for me. I currently work at IUPUI in Business Intelligence. The support, mentorship and convenience made staying here an easy decision.

What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?

Earlier this year I traveled to Washington DC to present at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) Works in Progress Session for my work entitled: Transformation Inside and Out: A Higher Education Journey.

What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?

I have lived in Indianapolis my whole life. There is no place I would rather be (except in the winter). My love for basketball and the Midwest made it easy to stay . . . and Long’s Donuts.

Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.

My current research interest includes ways to support black males diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, specifically those on the high-functioning end of the spectrum. My focus includes ways in which primary and secondary institutions can collaborate, using STEM to increase high school degree completion for black males across a range of services for autism learners. In my research and day to day, I advocate for the progression of interprofessional education and collaboration within institutions, communities, and teams to empower change as a mindset, not a task. My goal is to improve how we support and care for others.