I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Human Ecology, Family, Child and Consumer Sciences (FCCS) at Louisiana State University (LSU). I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and my Masters and Doctorate degrees from the Department of Human and Community Development (HCD) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). My research primarily focuses on the dynamics of Black family life, and specifically examines the relationship narratives of dating, cohabiting, and married African-Americans as well as the role of religion/spirituality in the lives of African-American families.
My master’s thesis, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” – Religion and Spirituality in an African-American Church Community” was an ethnographic mixed-methods study that explored the greatest benefits of church involvement for African-Americans, the ways that religiosity and spirituality helps African-Americans cope with the stresses of parenting, as well as the ways that African-Americans define the terms “religiosity” and “spirituality.”
My dissertation, “Emotional closeness and commitment among African-American Couples: Implications for promoting Relationship Stability” was a mixed-methods study that explored the ways that married and cohabiting African-Americans describe and experience emotional closeness and commitment in their relationships.
My current collaborative study, “Strong Marriages in the African American Culture,” explores the dynamics of strong marriages, from the perspectives of African Americans who have been married for 20 years, or longer. In addition, I have published several sole and first authored manuscripts related to my primary and secondary research interests.
Through my classroom teaching, I encourage students to critically examine the ways that various family policies can better meet the needs of contemporary families. In addition, I help students understand how they can effectively meet the needs of individuals, couples and families as human service workers and Certified Family Life Educators.
I am excited to be a faculty member in the School of Human Ecology at Louisiana State University (LSU), promoting various components of the Flagship Agenda, including, but not limited to, collaborating with research and extension members within and outside of the department via publications and outreach opportunities.
