Our Team

Director

Associate Professor of Medicine

I am a workplace psychologist specializing in leadership development, ethical decision-making, leader-follower dynamics, and research ethics. My research centers on scientists’ leadership and management to promote research excellence. I additionally research patient perspectives and ethical issues in healthcare technologies. I have received funding from NIH, NSF, and the U.S. Office of Research Integrity. I teach, train, and coach in leadership and research ethics. I value collaborative research and mentoring researchers to reach their career goals. My favorite things outside of work are spending time with my three young children, coffee, dark chocolate, and weight training.

Co-Director

Assistant Professor of Medicine

I am a workplace psychologist conducting federally and foundation-funded research on ethical and social issues in science and medicine. My work focuses on healthy workplace cultures, professional decision-making, ethical conduct in research, and fostering responsible industry-academic partnerships for emerging brain technologies. Research is a “team sport” that requires people to work toward achieving individual and shared goals. Cultivating productive interpersonal and team dynamics to support research rigor and excellence must be approached with intention and can be challenging in fast-paced careers. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and my dog, dining at new restaurants, and traveling nationally and internationally.

Founding Faculty

I trained as a Speech Pathologist and have applied my skills in assessment and intervention design to career development in higher education. I focus on practices and strategic initiatives to create academic cultures that foster excellence in research, education, and healthcare. As a qualitative researcher, I study faculty experiences to understand ways to build the academic and scientific workforce. I have assisted institutions with their strategic planning and staffing practices. I have led an NIH-funded Postbaccalaureate program for student career development and enjoy coaching students and faculty on their professional goals. I enjoy strength training, baking, jazz music, and traveling, but my favorite role is being an “Auntie” to my nieces and nephews.

Founding Faculty

Professor of Developmental Biology

I specialize in biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics, with interests in developmental biology, aging, and metal metabolism. With nearly 30 years of experience leading a lab, my research has been funded by NIH, NSF, and foundations such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I prioritize training and mentoring junior researchers and directed the Developmental Biology graduate training program for 17 years. Many PhD students and postdocs from my lab now run their own labs. I appreciate that Compass offers support for junior researchers’ career development. I would have benefited from the opportunity for such training in my own early career. Outside of work, I enjoy white water canoeing, wilderness camping, and spending time with my family.

Program Manager

I have served in teaching, administrative, and research roles in higher education across nearly two decades. My doctoral work focused on designing educational systems and interventions to help at-risk community college students. Before Compass, I developed the E4B Training Program to foster skills in innovation and entrepreneurship. Contributing to Compass and witnessing its growth has been particularly fulfilling. Outside of work, I enjoy raising three daughters and numerous pets with my wife. I co-founded several small businesses in St. Louis and am active in nonprofit and community development activities.

Peer Mentoring Team Coordinator

I joined Washington University as an intern, focusing on qualitative research and content development for the Compass program. Now a full-time team member, I coordinate and support peer mentoring teams and assist with program assessment and evaluation. My background in psychology and biology, along with experience at the Monroe County Health Department, inspired me to pursue a Master of Public Health, which I earned from Saint Louis University in 2023. I am particularly interested in community assessment, emergency preparedness, and data management. Outside of work, I enjoy movies, running, hiking, and cooking.

Program Coordinator

I have worked in interdisciplinary research teams exploring factors influencing health outcomes, transitions of care, and kidney transplantation for nearly two decades. I manage the Professionalism and Integrity Program which provides coaching services for researchers at institutions nationally who have had compliance and integrity issues arise in their careers. I also coordinate education programs on the responsible conduct of research for researchers, postdocs, and graduate students and assist in coordinating Compass. In my free time, I enjoy long walks with audiobooks, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.