I’m a doctoral candidate at Northwestern University where I co-direct the Center of Media Psychology and Social Influence (COM-PSI) alongside Dr. Nathan Walter. My research broadly examines the emotional, cognitive, and metacognitive mechanisms that shape the way we interact with– and are ultimately influenced by– various types of media. Focusing primarily on contexts related to health, science, and politics, my work investigates the role that emotions and affective experiences play in the processing of mis/information, the effects of uncertainty on judgements and decision-making, and the persuasive influence of narrative storytelling. My work has been published in a variety of journals, including Science Communication, Media Psychology, and Emotion, and has received over $100,000 in funding from the Delaney Family Foundation. The ultimate goal of my research program is to contribute to the development of communication tools and interventions that promote the uptake of prosocial attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. I’m a graduate of Mercer University (B.A., Communication Studies) and Wake Forest University (M.A., Communication).