Who Am I?
I'm Naomi, a social science researcher interested in exploring the social determinants of health within underserved communities. I'm also an educator with experience teaching students in diverse settings, ranging from elementary students on Zoom to high schoolers at summer camps, and graduate students in universities. I hope to become a professor, teaching research and statistics courses.
What Did I Study?
Like many people from Long Island, I began my undergrad journey at Stony Brook University on the pre-med track. However, I quickly realized that the medical field wasn't for me because I didn’t enjoy lab work. Still interested in healthcare, I switched from Biology to a dual major in Sociology and Psychology, with a minor in Health, Medicine, and Society.
In my second-to-last semester, I took the infamous Research and Writing in Psychology course, which I avoided for years because "research" reminded me of test tubes and pipettes. To my surprise, not all research happens in a lab—and I discovered that I actually really enjoy it! This led me to pursue a master's in Social Research and Analysis at Montclair State University, where I now work as a research assistant in the Departments of Sociology and Justice Studies.
What Makes Me Happy?
When I'm not editing manuscripts or tutoring students, you can find me creating artwork, solving mysteries (whether it’s escape rooms, debugging code, or predicting movie endings), practicing languages on Duolingo, or *screaming* my heart out at karaoke night. I also love exploring new places and was fortunate enough to have incredibly supportive professors who let me travel while attending virtual classes during my master's program.
What's Next for Me?
Within the next few years, I plan to apply to Ph.D. programs. In the meantime, I’m searching for research opportunities to help narrow my interests and strengthen my quantitative and qualitative skills.
