I earned a Ph.D. from the School of Journalism and Media in the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. As a communication scholar grounded in media studies and psychological theory, I specialize in health communication and the public understanding of science and health-related topics. My research examines how media messages shape public engagement, perception, and behavior in politicized and high-stakes contexts — including health crises, climate change, science skepticism, and disaster communication. I use a range of methodological approaches, including experimental design, qualitative inquiry, and computational analysis, to explore how people interpret, evaluate, and respond to complex information.

In both my research and teaching, I aim to make communication scholarship practical, engaging, and accessible, bridging theory with real-world application. I have experience teaching and mentoring in diverse learning environments and enjoy working at the intersection of media practice, public impact, and interdisciplinary research.