My primary research interest is romantic attachment. I have investigated the relationships among romantic attachment, traumatic bonding, and forgiveness within a sample of abused women residing in an emergency domestic violence shelter. Currently I am interested in looking at romantic attachment, romantic jealousy, rejection sensitivity, and violence within romantic relationships. Finally, I am integrating my clinical practice and research to examine forgiveness and romantic attachment over the course of a manualized forgiveness therapy.

I am fortunate to have great friends within my lab and the department, with whom I spend my free time. We enjoy cooking together, taking trips into the mountains, and going to UT football games. I also enjoy the beautiful trails in East Tennessee for walking my dog.

My professional interests are based primarily on the study of intimate partner violence and women’s trauma. Although I am currently working on several projects involving some component is IPV, I am primarily focused on my dissertation research entitled Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy at this time. Eventually I hope to conduct and implement treatment development research for men and women struggling with violent relationships and I hope to continue to be involved in advocacy and policy making on both local and federal levels.

My personal interests include hiking, running (trail and road), backpacking, reading non-psychology related books, socializing, crafty things, and anything having to do with the ocean.

Before coming to UT, I graduated from the University of Virginia in 2003, and worked there for two years as a lab coordinator for the Virginia Adolescence Research Group.  My main research interests include the development and course of adolescent romantic relationships, as well as adolescent emotion regulation in the context of close peer and romantic relationships.  I also enjoys teaching Abnormal Psychology and working clinically with a range of individuals and groups.

When I am not working on my dissertation, applying for internship, or planning my wedding...I enjoy riding horses and aspire to someday incorporate horses into my psychotherapy practice.  I also like to run, swim, hike, play music, and sing.

I spent four years of undergraduate studying religion and psychology, with specific interest in spirituality and forgiveness. The Gordon lab has been a good fit in this regard. In particular, a question that has interested me is whether there are personality characteristics, or behaviors of an offender that make them less forgivable to the people they betray. In the future, I hope to examine offender variables in forgiveness in a variety of additional contexts. Other research interests include the neurobiology of cooperation as well as trait optimism.

In my downtime, I enjoy distance running, swimming, oil painting, and gardening. Occasionally, I can be found singing opera (possibly to the chagrin of others around me). I enjoy learning new languages and learning about other cultures.

My research and clinical interests focus on intergenerational influences in romantic relationships. I recently obtained my Master's degree for work focusing on the roles of relationship behaviors and cognitions in the transmission of relational discord across generations. I recently received the 2009 Randy Gerson Memorial Grant and am beginning work on my dissertation study that will further explore the mechanisms promoting resilience and adaptation in offspring with conflictual and/or divorced parents.

I am originally from Raleigh, North Carolina and completed my undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since moving to Knoxville, I have enjoyed exploring the numerous scenic areas in eastern Tennessee through running, biking and participation in local triathlons and races.

Before moving to Knoxville I spent a few years working on an interventional study for couples faced with breast cancer, as well as working at a local domestic violence prevention agency leading a support group for women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Since moving to Tennessee, I have maintained and strengthened my existing interests in intimate relationships. The majority of my research thus far has focused on studying and writing about forgiveness in marriage, and finding factors that predict forgiveness in women faced with IPV. I plan to continue pursuing these interests in my future years at UT.

I enjoy traveling, especially to NYC and the beach. Additionally, I love to cook (and eat- especially sushi). I love reading, playing games, watching movies, and spending time with my friends. I am a huge UNC basketball fan and March Madness is my favorite time of year!

My research experience is in the area of couples, specifically intervention development, emotion skills, and compassionate love.  I spent a year on the Marriage Checkup Project with Dr. Cordova at Clark University. In my second year working with Dr. Cordova, I have been working on a project involving defensiveness in couples’ communication and one on the development of a compassionate love measure.   I plan on continuing in couples research, particularly in intervention development. 

In my free time, I fail to overcome my addiction to books and enjoy exploring wherever I happen to be living.  I adore dancing of any variety, whether out and about with friends or in my living room by myself.  I also like to crochet plastic bags and knit.