Student Spotlight

Where do you work and in what capacity?
I am a fourth-year doctoral candidate at George Washington University in the Applied Social Psychology program. 

Where did you do your training?
I earned my BA in Psychology from the University of Redlands, then explored various roles, including backpacking instructor, classroom facilitator, exercise equipment salesman, server, and research assistant. These experiences helped me clarify both what I wanted, and (more importantly) didn’t want, in a career. I later completed my MS in Experimental Psychology at William & Mary under the mentorship of Dr. Adrian Bravo and am now working with Dr. Ellen Yeung at George Washington University.

What are your research interests?
Broadly, I study how psychosocial factors influence substance use behaviors, with much of my work focusing on understanding the risk factors and consequences of food and alcohol disturbance (FAD; engaging in disordered eating behaviors within drinking episodes to enhance alcohol’s effects or offset its calories). Beyond FAD, I am interested in exploring risk factors and comorbidities of alcohol use that are critical for minimizing alcohol-related harms. For instance, in the future I am interested in investigating how sports betting and alcohol consumption influence each other and identifying the conditions under which one behavior exacerbates the other, leading to problematic or excessive use.

What are your policy/advocacy interests?
Our field has produced an incredible amount of research, yet much of what we’ve learned about addiction remains confined to academic journals. I have been inspired by members of Division 50 sharing their syllabi for Addiction Psychology courses. As I progress throughout my career I aim to contribute to these efforts to improve and increase education related to the field of addiction. 

How did you become interested in addictive behaviors?
Since taking Introduction to Psychology as an undergraduate, I have been interested in how social psychological factors (e.g., norms, motivation) influence behavior. Through my training, I discovered their strong relevance to addictive behaviors, allowing me to study the topics that intrigued me while contributing to important work.

What motivated you to join the Society of Addiction Psychology (Division 50)?
Dr. Adrian Bravo introduced me to Division 50, and since then, I’ve truly appreciated the community I’ve built through attending CPA and serving on the Student Committee. The division’s commitment to supporting student members is evident, and I’m grateful for the connections and opportunities it has provided.

Any other information that you would like to share about yourself with other SoAP members?
I recently accepted a verbal offer for an Assistant Professor position at the US Naval Academy! I am excited about the opportunity to work with the students at the Naval Academy as well as to continue my career as an addiction researcher.