My research interests are primarily in the following areas: 1) cultural adjustment (psychological, social, acculturative stress, academic) of international students, especially Asian students, studying in the United States; 2) cultural adjustment and intercultural competence of American students studying abroad; 3) nonverbal communication, especially as it relates to “cultural accents” or differences across cultures; 4) pedagogical methods that increase student achievement, involvement, and growth, such as service-learning. Currently, I am working with several partners at the Middletown, Hamilton, and Oxford campuses to 1) design assessment instruments that determine what impacts our cultural exchanges are having upon student mental health and intercultural competence and 2) apply this research to design more comprehensive and supportive programming for international and study abroad students. I also recently formed a team of students that created PRISM (Reflecting Possibilities) to encourage service work in our community, especially in partnership with individuals who have developmental disabilities.
