I'm an Associate Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Broadly, my interests include: gender and sexualities; juvenile delinquency and justice; mentoring and restorative justice; peer and social networks; and social inequality and the life course.

My research focuses on the dynamics of adolescent relationships and their impact on various life outcomes, the influence of peer networks on behavior, and systemic issues within educational and criminal justice systems. I also explore topics such as dating and sexuality in youth, employment risks, exclusionary school discipline, and the transition to adulthood. Additionally, my work addresses broader systemic issues and aims to improve educational approaches. I regularly teach undergraduate-level classes related to juvenile justice, introductory statistics, criminological theory, peer mentoring, and applied methods.

I earned a B.A. in Health and Societies from the University of Pennsylvania in addition to a M.A. in Criminology and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the Pennsylvania State University.