Since coming to Illinois College, she has worked with students to conduct research in many areas including: interpersonal relationships, self-injurious behaviors, learning styles and attitudes towards learning, and gender issues. Her students regularly volunteer for and do internships with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Best Buddies, The Jacksonville Developmental Center, and the Western Illinois Youth Camp. She is a member of these professional organizations: Psi Chi, the Council on Undergraduate Research, the Association for Psychogical Science, the Society for Research in Child Development, and the International Positive Psychology Association.