She received her doctorate in school psychology from Northern Illinois University and her doctoral dissertation examined the relations among traditional and cyber victimization and suicidal ideation among high school students. Her research is grounded in a social-ecological framework and revolves around bullying behavior (including cyberbullying and bystander behavior) and social emotional well-being. She is especially interested in school-based preventative and protective factors for victims, bullies, and bystanders, including school climate, social support, and social emotional learning.