My specific area of research interest focuses on understanding the motor development and physical activity behaviors of individuals on the autism spectrum across their lifespan. Through a radical pragmatic lens, I use my expertise in mixed methodology to employ both qualitative and quantitative methods in the search of high-quality intervention, assessment, and teaching strategies to reduce systemic barriers to physical activity and healthy behaviors. Through participatory research frameworks, I am interested in co-producing research that closely aligns with actual community need to ensure equal opportunity is provided to autistic individuals and their families.

2021 SHAPE Fellow, SHAPE America

2021 Mable Lee Award, SHAPE America

2020 Awarded “Top Faculty Paper", Commission on the Status of Women, AEJMC

2019 Elly D. Friedmann Young Professional Award, International Federation for Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA)

2019 — 2020 Mentoring Micro-grant ($1,500), Office for the Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, University of North Texas

2019 Travel Support ($1,000), Office of the Provost, University of North Texas

2017 Connect Learning Grant and Course Development Program ($750), Career Connect, University of North Texas

2017 Mary Catherine Ellwein Award, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia

2017 Adapted Physical Education/Activity Graduate Student of the Year, SHAPE America

2016 Linda K. Bunker Scholarship, Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia

2010 Golden Key International Honor Society, Nominated & Inducted, Western Michigan University

2020 — Present Editor/Contributor, The Radical Pragmatist Newsletter

2020 Mixed Methods International Research Association MOOC Professional Learning Courses

2019 Co-host, #SaludTues twitter chat. Topic: #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwareness

2019 Organizer, Community Movie Event (DAMN Good Time!) in collaboration with Texas Woman’s University.

2018 — 2019 Editor/Contributor, Meet Me in the Gym (Blog)

2018 Early Career Mentoring Workshop, International Society for Autism Research

2018 NIH K-Award Workshop

2018 — 2019 UNT College of Education, Research Development Fridays

2017 — Present National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity

2014 — 2016 Tomorrow’s Professor Today, University of Virginia Center for Teaching Excellence

International, National, & Regional Presentations Included

2020 — Present Frontiers Psychology

2020 — Present Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2019 — Present Autism Research

2019 — Present Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour

2019 — Present Journal of Advanced Academics

2019 — Present Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport

2018 — Present Autism

2018 — Present Exceptional Children

2018 — Present Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

2018 — Present Perceptual and Motor Skills

2017 — Present Research in Developmental Disabilities

2016 — Present Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

2014 — Present PALAESTRA

2018 Journal of Teaching in Physical Education

2017 Journal of Motor Learning and Development

2016 British Journal of Visual Impairment

My instructional areas of expertise include: adapted physical education/activity, teaching pedagogy, disabilities (specific focus on developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders), measurement and assessment in teaching and physical education, motor development, and research methods (specific focus on qualitative and mixed methods). I am trained and proficient in providing instruction in-person, hybrid, and online.

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