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Welcome to my academic space!

I am a Professor in the Department of Human Development at Virginia Tech and a Research Methodologist at the Center for Gerontology. I am deeply passionate about understanding the intersection of life stressors, health, and well-being, particularly in middle-aged and older adults.

My research revolves around a central theme: how do the everyday struggles that these individuals encounter "get under their skin," affecting their mental and physical health? To delve into this, I specialize in three overlapping strands of research:

1. Stress, Health, and Well-Being in Mid and Late Life: Here, I investigate how various stressors influence health outcomes and overall well-being as we age.

2. Family Relationships, Support Networks, and Caregiving: I explore how familial and social interactions can influence the health and well-being of middle-aged and older adults.

3. Chronic Disease Management: I focus on understanding the implications of managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and cognitive impairment in later life.

In my research, I employ a biopsychosocial framework to holistically understand these phenomena. I combine a daily diary paradigm, where individuals share their everyday experiences, with biological indicators of stress, known as biomarkers. This approach helps me map the intricate connections between physiological processes and emotional, behavioral, and social factors.

Beyond this, I also bring expertise in analyzing prospective longitudinal studies, handling missing data in longitudinal designs, estimating statistical power, and deploying structural equation modeling and multilevel models. I believe that strong methodological rigor underlies impactful research, allowing us to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of human development and gerontology.

I invite you to explore my work further, engage in scholarly discussions, and join my research lab to uncover new insights into the complex dynamics of stress, health, and well-being in mid and late life. Let's collaborate!