Research Interests

I am currently focused on two major areas of research:
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1. Psychology of Working: Research in vocational psychology is often completed with individuals who have high degrees of freedom in their career choices. However, I believe that for most individuals, career choice is limited by numerous factors including personal, structural, and economic barriers. Using Psychology of Working Theory as a foundation, we are currently conducting a number of studies examining how economic constraints and experiences of marginalization predict the ability to secure decent work as well as other core propositions within the model.  
   
2. Work as a Calling: As a major component of both vocational and positive psychology, I am attempting to understand what it means to have a career calling. How do people define this term? How does having a calling relate to academic, work, and well being outcomes? What types of individuals are more or less likely to endorse a career calling? What types of interventions work best to promote a career calling? We are currently doing a number of studies investigating these questions with college students and working adults.  ​​​