She earned a dual Ph.D. in Psychology and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame. Her research applies a risk and resilience framework, within a developmental psychopathology approach, to examine the impact of political violence on children, families, and communities in Colombia, Croatia and Northern Ireland. She is also expanding this international research to work with immigrant and refugee youth in the United States. In addition, she has research and operational knowledge in conflict transformation, mental health, and transitional justice with six years of field experience in rights-based empowerment in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Nepal.