• Hometown: Chicago, IL
• Faculty mentor/advisor: David Duys, Associate Professor, College of Education
• What is your degree program and expected graduate date? Counselor Education and Supervision; anticipated graduation in Spring 2021
• Please describe your research:  I am conducting research on neurocounseling, which means bridging the gap between neuroscience and counseling. I am particularly interested in populations that have experienced trauma and how that affects neurology. It has been shown that trauma creates structural changes within the brain, and as a counselor I want to learn what we can do to facilitate healing from a neurological standpoint.
• In simple terms, why does this research matter?  In order to push the field of mental health counseling forward, it is imperative to understand what is happening biologically as well as psychologically. I hope to build on that connection with my research.
• How soon after starting at the University of Iowa were you able to participate in research? I pursued a graduate program here at Iowa because of its reputation with research. I was involved in research prior to coming here, and continued projects from my very first semester.
• How has being involved in research made you more successful at the University of Iowa? Research helps ground clinical practice in my field, so I hope to contribute to the literature in a way that helps push forward the mental health counseling field. I have already seen the effects of this as I have given presentations and published on these particular topics.
• What are your career goals and/or plans after graduation? My career goal is to become a faculty member at an institution where I can continue to drive the mental health counseling field forward through research, teaching, and clinical practice.

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