Education
Master of Science in Child Life
University of Georgia
I received my master's degree in child life from the University of Georgia in August 2021. Here, I was able to take courses such as Child Life Interventions, Death, Dying & Bereavement Across the Lifespan, Therapeutic Benefits of Play, and Medical Terminology.
My cohort and I also attended various conferences and seminars, including the 2020 Annual Child Life Conference, the 2021 Florida Association of Child Life Professionals Conference, and Beyond the Classroom Child Life Seminar at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
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For the duration of my graduate career, I worked as a research assistant in the Biology, Early Experiences, & Development (BEED) Lab, studying the impact of early adversity on child and adolescent development. I also completed a thesis on neighborhood safety, access to outdoor play, and long-term health and functioning outcomes. Additionally, I assisted with projects on infant brain development and healthy housing for children. These experiences highlight my research interests in the impact of stress on health and development as well as social determinants of health.
Related Competencies: I.A, I.C, I.F, II.A, II.B, III.A, IV.
Bachelor of Science in Child Development with Minor in Medicine, Health, & Society
Vanderbilt University
I received my Bachelor of Science in Child Development in Spring 2018. During my undergraduate career, I took various courses on social, emotional, and cognitive development in infants, children, and adolescents. I was also able to take courses such as the Hospitalized Child and Play-Based Approaches to Family Stress and Coping. In order to learn more about the cultural, biological, and economic factors that influence health, I declared a minor in Medicine, Health, and Society as well.
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As an undergraduate, I worked in various research labs, studying cognitive and social development in infants and children as well as the impacts of interactive technology and music on development. I also assisted with research exploring conceptualizations of the term "legacy" among patients, caregivers, and practitioners in a pediatric healthcare setting.
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I had the privilege of volunteering in a variety of settings as an undergraduate, including a children's hospital, a hospice residence, and a camp for children with serious illnesses.
Related Competencies: I.A, I.C, III.A, IV.
Area of Study: Child Development & Diversity
DIS Copenhagen
In the fall of 2016, I spent four months in Copenhagen, Denmark studying Child Development & Diversity. Here, I completed a practicum at a Danish børnehave, or nursery school, where I interacted with Danish pedagogues, children, and families in addition to planning, implementing, and evaluating a developmentally appropriate play-based activity exploring English and Danish language.
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I also took courses such as Child Development in Scandinavia, Immigrant & Refugee Children, and Danish Language & Culture. My cohort and I traveled across Scandinavia, visiting various childcare and education settings such as forest preschools and folk schools.
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Related Competencies: I.B, I.C