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 Associate Chair and as the NFS Graduate Program Director.  I am currently President-Elect of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).

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, and the M.S. in Nutrition.  

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 Bethlehem House,  and the UCA Bear Essentials Food Pantry. Prior 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 AAFCS.