I received my B.A. in Italian from Middlebury College, where I spent my junior year living and studying in Florence, including a course at the Università di Firenze. Although I originally planned to pursue a career in medicine, my interest in clinical psychology grew after college while working as a teaching assistant at a residential home for children who had experienced abuse and neglect. Having never taken a psychology class in college, I decided to explore the field further and pursued coursework and a master’s in psychology at Boston University. I then earned a master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from Loyola University Chicago, specializing in children and families. During graduate school, I discovered pediatric neuropsychology—a field that integrated my interests in child development, psychopathology, and medicine.

I honed my skills in pediatric neuropsychology through an externship, a pre-doctoral internship, and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago. My research has focused on areas like neurocognitive and psychiatric functioning in homeless youth, anxiety and coping in Black youth, and psychosocial development in emerging adults. I also contributed to the development of an executive functioning intervention for high-risk adolescents. I have published widely, including book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles, and presented my work at national conferences. As a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) trainee, I gained advanced multidisciplinary training to support individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

I joined the Evaluation Center for Learning in 2012, initially collaborating with learning specialists. After my colleagues retired, I continued to practice independently and draw on nearly a decade of experience working with them. Since 2014, I have also been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Rush University Medical Center, where I work in the Road Home Program with the children of veterans. More detailed information about my background and credentials can be found here.

I was raised in Chicago’s northern suburbs and now live in the community with my husband, two sons, and our dog, Duncan. Outside of work, I enjoy staying active outdoors, cooking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.