Hi! I'm Emily, a PhD candidate in interpersonal communication at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

My research focuses on communication about and within romantic and sexual relationships. Currently, I'm a Gratitude Fellow funded by The Love Consortium for a project that investigates cross-cultural expressions of love and gratitude. I'm also a co-managing editor for the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast run by Dr. Justin Lehmiller.  

I utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate my research questions. I am interested in how individuals understand themselves within their interpersonal relationships, as well as how technology use mediates these experiences. Here, I pay specific attention to romantic and sexual relationships, sexual health, and consent. I also use critical theory to research health disparities, inaccessibility, and disability.

Given my interests, some of the research questions I am focused on include...

• How do online spaces catalyze sensemaking about our relationships with close others? 

• How do individuals communicate their sexual willingness through digital channels? 

• How are marginalized individuals disenfranchised by the healthcare system?