Who I Am

Dr. Wick, professionally

I am a developmental psychologist by training with a passion for utilizing a mixed methodology to explore the complexity of the human experience. One of the greatest influences to my worldview is Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory (1979). This theory posits that our individual humanity cannot be separated from the context within which it is embedded, which suggests that we are deeply connected & have mutually influencial relationships with everything (& everyone) around us.

My primary area of research is equity in complex social systems, and more broadly, the exploration of how the multiple identities that we subscribe to influence our wellbeing, belonging, and self-efficacy.

I am especially interested in the application of what we learn from this research to positively impact indivuduals from populations who have been traditionally marginalized in our society. Our humanity is shared, and those of us who have been alotted more with privilege have a duty to drive equity practices for all. This thread binds my personal, professional, and research perspectives.

Higher education is steeped in a past of institutional discrimination and prejudice, and while we have come a long way, we still have so far to go. I am especially interested in the disparities of equity when it comes to mathematics, statistics, and research methods. The continued attacks on education & science only serve to underscore how important this vein of research is. Science is about learning the truth. When science changes, it isn't that it lied to you, but that it learned more. That is what I find so beautiful about science & research; we are all just learners seeking the next truth.

I earned a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Developmental & Learning Sciences (Educational Psychology), with a minor in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Psychometric Methods, a Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Psychology, & obtained a stand-alone graduate certificate in Mixed Method Research, all from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I completed my undergraduate with a Bachelor of Arts (BA)* in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento, after earning [3] AAs from Santa Rosa Junior College. If you are interested in learning more about my non-traditional trajectory through education, please click here.

*NOTE: In 2023, California State University, Sacramento officially transitioned its undergraduate degree in Psychology from a Bachelor of Arts (BA) to a Bachelor of Sciences (BS) to better reflect the program's heavy emphasis on empirical research, scientific methods, & statistics coursework required in the curriculum.

Outside of academia

Outside of academia, I am also the owner of two fledgling small businesses:

Clever Girl, Inc. (est. 2025)

Clever Girl, Inc. was founded with the intent to develop into a non-profit organization with the goal of enhancing equity in higher education. Its' mission is to offer free & low-cost materials for teaching and learning statistical analyses & research methodology, utilizing the expertise of a collaboration of brilliant professionals identifying as women &/or members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Firefly Studios (est. 2026)

Firefly Studios was created as a way to showcase my more creative endeavors. While still in its infancy, it will be a space where I can share my artwork, photography, & furniture restoration projects with others.

On a more personal note

When I am out in the wild, I spend time with my family, friends, and my menagerie of animals. Where you find me, you'll also find my service dog, Atticus Finch. I spend most of my free time riding & spending time with my horses. I am a dedicated bibliophile, & I was lucky enough to have a book lover read to me every night growing up. I learned to read at 3 sitting in my mom's lap, & my love of reading has never gone away (check out my bookshelf to see what I've been reading lately & what books I recommend).

I am also constantly creating art through a variety of outlets. My dad was a master craftsman, so I learned to love working with my hands in his woodshop. He treated me the same as my brother growing up, so I learned how to use all of his tools to create beautiful things. I love to hunt for vintage & antique pieces of furniture at thrift shops, & either restore them or give them new life.

I endorse the following identities for myself: neurodivergent, living with disability, non-traditional, returning, and first-generation college student. I am also a vehement ally and defender for queer and trans individuals. We are all connected through our shared humanity, and basic human rights must be defended at all cost.

I hope that one day, my work can contribute to making a better, more equitable world where people do not feel that they have to hide who they are. In the meantime, I'm here. I see you. We will get through this together.

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