Unconventional Upbringing
I was born April 22, 1983 in the small town of Poughkeepsie, New York. My upbringing was slightly unconventional, with my father being Jewish and my mother being Unitarian. We celebrated all Judaic holidays, while encompassing many other faiths in our yearly traditions. Our Christmas tree would always be adorned with too much tinsel, oversized multi-colored bulbs, and a handmade Jewish star crafted from toilet paper rolls and tinfoil. Being blessed with this multicultural background, I have learned to appreciate all races, religions, and customs. Philosophically, I truly believe that merging academic and moral ideas not only leads to a healthy compromise, but often the best solution to a particular problem. This realization I owe solely to the structure of my childhood experiences.
Rush to Reno
During my high school days, I was unsure of my future and not extremely serious about academic success. I randomly chose to attend the University of Nevada, Reno without ever visiting this sagebrush state, not knowing a single person and being 3000 miles from any immediate family member. While I was initially anxious about this move, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. I started working with William P. Wallace my sophomore year, and immediately became enamored with the empirical process. It was all uphill from there, as I gained electrophysiological experience in Trinidad with sea turtles, became extremely motivated academically and, of course, met my husband, Randall D. Halcomb. Reno turned out to be just one academic chapter in my life, serving as preparation for my journey to Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Haul to Houston
The drive was long and the pack was chaotic. I taught a Statistical Methods course in the summer of 2007, defended my thesis the next day, and drove across the country towards Houston the following morning. While I have been in Houston for a short duration, I feel entirely at home. I love the weather, my graduate program at Rice University, and all the wonderful people I have come into contact with. Working with Jessica Logan has been a delightful experience and I am eager to begin my dissertation work on memory and aging. Additionally, I began tutoring middle school and high school children in subjects ranging from Geometry to English. I embrace the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students, whom have very different educational needs. This opportunity has cultivated a passion for student mentoring; I am excited for the prospect of one day being able to mentor college age student through the exciting path from matriculation to commencement.You can view my teaching philosophy here.
Academic Aspirations
I look forward to the day that I complete my Doctoral degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and can collaborate on large research projects with my fellow colleagues. Research is omnipresent as a major interest and incites a profound desire to one day work at a research university. For a detailed explanation of my research, please read my research interestst.
