I study how families, children, and communities develop across time within social, cultural, and digital contexts. My research builds on Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory and advances neo-ecological theory, the framework I developed to account for the way digital contexts influence human development.
Applying Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory and advancing neo-ecological theory to understand how families, children, and communities navigate an increasingly digital world, with collaborators across the US, Sweden, and Costa Rica.
See my scholarshipAt Elon University, I teach courses on human services practice, research methods, and global engagement, with a commitment to critical thinking, student mentorship, and learning that connects to the real world. I also serve as Associate Director of Project Pericles at Elon.
See my teachingI bring bioecological and neo-ecological theory to audiences beyond the academy, helping researchers, educators, and organizations apply developmental frameworks to the challenges they are actually facing.
Work with me
Understanding and Teaching Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory
The essential resource for anyone teaching or applying Bronfenbrenner's PPCT model, with practical tools, real classroom strategies, and new ways to think about theory in contemporary contexts.
Get the bookReframing Costa Rica: An Anthology of Counter-Stories and Critical Perspectives
An anthology written by Costa Rican and Central American scholars, activists, and educators. The resource that did not exist for study abroad, so we built it.
Learn more