Welcome! I am an Associate Professor at the University of Central Arkansas in the Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences (NFS). I also serve as the NFS Graduate Program Director.   

At UCA, I  teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the NFS department. These include graduate research methods, graduate electives, and undergraduate courses in our Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) program. 

I'm a Faculty Affiliate of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE)'s Social Studies Library and a former UCA Service-Learning Faculty Fellow.  I also serve as Academic Advisor for students pursuing the M.S. in FCS.  

In 2023, I received the Arkansas Outstanding FCS Educator of the Year Award from the Arkansas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. In 2024, I received the National New Achiever Award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. I was also a member of the interprofessional team that received the 2024 UCA-CHBS Award for Interprofessional Excellence & Innovation. 

As a researcher, I use experiments and survey research to examine questions in the area of consumer decision-making.  I am especially interested in consumer food choice, local food, behavioral nudges, and health interventions.  I also have an interest in financial decision-making and education, particularly among college students.  

My work is designed to help address real-world problems, with the goal of providing useful information for individuals, policymakers, retailers, and other stakeholders. Recent collaborations include projects with the Arkansas Foodbank, the FUMC-Conway Food Pantry, and Arkansas Asset Builders, as well as curriculum efforts with the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE)'s Social Studies Library.  

Prior to UCA, I spent five years as Lab Manager of the Behavioral Research Insights Through Experiments (BRITE) Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The BRITE Lab is a joint venture between the Wisconsin School of Business and the School of Human Ecology. The lab focuses on experimental research that explores how various factors affect individual decision-making.  I joined UCA in 2018.

I received my Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in consumer behavior and family economics, with a minor in ag and applied economics. I received an M.S. in ag and resource economics from the University of Delaware, which is also where I completed my undergrad. I hold CFCS and CPFFE certifications through the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.