I earned my Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from Brown University, becoming the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in the field in 2023.

I completed my dissertation research at Columbia University as an IvyPlus Exchange Scholar and hold an M.S. in Cognitive Science.

Before that, I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Philosophy and Neuroscience.

As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, I began my journey exploring how experience and opportunity shape cognitive development — a theme that continues to guide my work today.

My research explores how lived experience, culture, and technology shape the developing mind.

Using behavioral, neuroimaging, and mixed-methods approaches, I study how children develop working memory and self-regulation — and how social context and opportunity influence those trajectories.

At the heart of my scholarship is a commitment to intersectional cognitive science: making developmental research more equitable, inclusive, and globally informed.

I served as a Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow, working within the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

There, I applied developmental and behavioral science to programs serving children and families nationwide — bridging the gap between research and public policy.

That experience continues to inform my mission: designing systems that are evidence-based, culturally responsive, and human-centered.

My work spans the United States, Ghana, Jordan, Japan, and the Netherlands, reflecting a global commitment to inclusive science.

I’ve partnered with the Katsuiku Academy in Tokyo as Educational Research Lead, consulted on culturally responsive curriculum design, and collaborated with the Communicating and Expanding Research on Adversity (CERA) Network to strengthen how developmental science is shared with journalists, educators, and policymakers.

In May 2025, I co-organized a CERA meeting in Leiden, NL, bringing together scientists, journalists, and policymakers to advance communication of the science of adversity.

Through Cognitive Horizons, I translate cognitive science into applied learning, consulting, and innovation.

Our work helps educators, leaders, and organizations apply research to real-world challenges — from curriculum design and workforce development to decision-making and leadership training.

Cognitive Horizons LLC is limitless by design: a space where science meets strategy to turn insight into impact.

Mentorship has been central to my journey.

From tutoring through America Reads * America Counts to mentoring McNair Scholars during graduate school, I’ve seen firsthand how access and guidance change lives.

I continue to support McNair Scholars across the country through workshops and advising — helping students translate their stories and strengths into opportunities.

I’m also co-host of the Millennials Unpublished Podcast, where Dr. Darin Johnson and I discuss life, academia, and purpose beyond the PhD.

As a science communicator, I share evidence-based, culturally grounded insights with audiences worldwide.

Through Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack, I make cognitive science crispy clear — breaking down myths, rethinking familiar ideas, and connecting research to daily life.

My public scholarship extends the reach of my academic work, bringing brain science to classrooms, boardrooms, and communities.

I believe science should serve society.

Through research, policy, consulting, and communication, I work to build systems where people can think, learn, and lead with clarity, creativity, and confidence.

Whether in the lab, the classroom, or the public sphere — my goal is simple: Turn insight into impact.