I am a PhD graduate of the maternal and child health program in the Family Science Department at the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park. Following the completion of my doctorate from UMD in May, I will be assuming a new position as a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Global Health at Denison University in the Fall of 2024. 

As a global maternal and child health scholar, I have seven years of research experience with a record of 17 peer-reviewed publications, working in both academic settings and consulting firms, such as Abt Global. I was the recipient of the People's Choice award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for one of my research projects. In 2023, the University of Maryland honored me with a Women of Influence Award. I am also a member of the Gamma Zeta chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.

Currently, I teach an undergraduate course on Research Methods (FMSC 302) at UMD. I also work part-time as a researcher at Abt Global, in the International Development Division, leading and co-authoring five publications for the Integrated Health System project, funded by USAID in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. 

Prior to completing my master's in public health (M.P.H), I worked as a Technical Project Officer at Abt Associates on the  Health Financing and Governance (HFG), a 5-year global project awarded by USAID and implemented in 40 countries.

I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and came to the U.S. in 2010 to attend the Ethel Walker High School in Simsbury, CT. I graduated from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, with a BA in economics and fulfillment of pre-med requirements.