Research
I study how individuals, groups, and organizations discuss policy issues and solve policy problems that affect public and nonprofit organizations. In one stream of research, I examine decision-making. Specifically, I'm interested in how decision-makers discuss policy, the inclusion of citizens in decision-making processes, and the influence of policy communication on behavior. I'm also interested in how developing individual, group, and organizational capacity influences public service outcomes, learning, and policy change. I use qualitative methods, social network analysis, computational text analysis, and other analysis methods in my work.
My dissertation research focuses on decision-maker narratives about the COVID-19 pandemic and the information they emphasized to the public. Specifically, I study the 1) framing strategies used by national leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic and 2) the factors contributing to individuals' uptake of decision-maker framings. I use the Narrative Policy Framework and Framing Theory to understand how members of Congress, President Trump, and President Biden strategically framed the pandemic to the public. I also examine how individual health and economic experiences with COVID-19 and perceived interpersonal relationships with President Trump and President Biden contribute to adopting their framing of the pandemic. This research will lead to a greater understanding of decision-maker communication strategies during a public health crisis and the effects of their communication on the public.
I have had the privilege to work with two programs. I was a program manager for the Leadership Fellows Academy, which is an 8-month program that seeks to enhance the capacities of the mental health and addiction recovery ecosystems. As a program manager, I was responsible for the administration of the course, including vetting and booking instructors and executive coaches, monitoring participant attendance and course completion requirements, and communicating with stakeholders and partners. There are a couple of research projects I'm also working on with the program.
I am also a Doctoral Fellow with the Municipal Research Lab. As a member of this research team, I'm helping to establish the Workforce Development Leadership Initiative to train workforce and economic leaders on crucial topics. I developed five 2-hour courses for the inaugural cohort on topics such as strategic management, collaboration, and the policy context of workforce development policy. I'm engaging in research with this project, as well.
Additionally, I'm a graduate research assistant with the Risk and Social Policy Working Group. Our recent publication examines the influence of visual policy narratives on behavioral outcomes.