Communication
Research Interests
My research focuses on organizational communication and technology. I am interested in how technological affordances enable, constrain, and create new ways for organizational members to communicate. Most recently, I have been quite interested in how the adoption of IT solutions and enterprise systems can help to mitigate issues within organizations such as sexual harassment, discrimination, and bias by giving marginalized organizational members more safe and efficacious ways to voice their needs and concerns.
Mentoring Experiences
One of my favorite things to do as a graduate student is to introduce undergraduates to the world of research. I recruit, train, and mentor 4 to 7 undergraduate research assistants each quarter and heavily involve them in every phase of the research process. Among other activities such as speaking on panels to help students get involved in research on campus or learn more about graduate school options, I volunteer with the Department of Communication's Honors program to support undergraduates through their own research projects by teaching them to utilize Qualtrics and SPSS.
Meaning of the Award
Winning this award means the world to me. I take great pride in my mentorship efforts and in my students who continue to impress me with each passing year. As a first-generation student, I have personally benefitted greatly from past mentors at my undergraduate institution (CSU Channel Islands) and here at UCSB, and understand the importance and impact of being a mentor. So, being recognized as a successful mentor is one of the most cherished achievements of my academic career thus far.