Education
- Bachelor of Arts, Hispanic Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Bachelor of Arts, Studio Art, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Master of Science, Therapeutic Recreation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Biography
I am a Ph.D. student in the College of Health’s interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Sciences Program at the University of Utah and a graduate research assistant in the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies. I work PRN as a Recreational Therapist at the University Hospital's 5-West Inpatient Psychiatric Unit and teach pilates at the Eccles Student Life Center.
Research Summary
My research interests include studying virtual reality as a treatment modality for individuals with physical disabilities, specifically spinal cord injuries. I want to learn more about leisure motivation for individuals with acquired neurological disorders like spinal cord injury or stroke and how commercial virtual reality games and applications affect inpatients' anxiety, leisure satisfaction, and patient engagement.