I am an Associate Research Scientist in the College of Education and also serve as the Assistant Director of the Grants and Research Services Center (GRSC) in the College of Education. That is all to say, I love to think about ideas and the diverse ways that research can reveal new knowledge and applications. In my own research, I use an ecological systems framework and mixed methods to examine family, school, and neighborhood factors that shape academic and social development. My research, educational, and professional perspectives draw from my experience as a first-generation immigrant and international student in college and graduate school.