Elizabeth is a school psychology researcher and postdoctoral fellow with the School Mental Health Collaborative within the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, funded by the National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of Education through a training grant. Her research examines the intersection of education and other social institutions—including the criminal legal, housing, and child welfare systems—with a particular focus on understanding the systemic and individual impacts of parental incarceration on students and families. Elizabeth engages in this research using a variety of methodological approaches including secondary data analysis and qualitative survey and in-depth interviews.

Elizabeth received her BS in Developmental Psychology and a minor in Applied Psychology in Education and Community Settings from the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities. She holds a PhD in School Psychology from the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities. Elizabeth completed her predoctoral internship with Denver Public Schools, working at a PK-12 Spanish/English dual language school as well as with the district School Mental Health team.

Elizabeth’s work highlights the critical role of family-school-community collaboration in creating a holistic and supportive network that benefits all members of the school community. By developing practical solutions, she aims to foster student well-being and mental health, empowering schools to lead broader systemic change that creates safe, just, and inclusive spaces for all. Elizabeth is available for professional development and trainings for school mental health professionals and educators related to supporting students and families in the context of parental incarceration. Please reach out for further details.