Rheanna’s research background has primarily been within psychology and economics. Prior to pursuing research, she was corporate cargo insurance broker and advisor. She received her MA in Psychology at New York University in May 2023, and a BS in Psychology and BS in Economics from Santa Clara University in 2017. She is currently based in the SF Bay Area.

Research Interests

Rheanna’s research addresses questions of identity and community. She has worked on developmental economic research to map markers of poverty and inequality in the bay area. She conducted an experimental study on investigating factors that contribute to one’s decision to engage in prosocial behavior. More recently, Rheanna’s research has explored the impact of systemic issues on racial disparities in health, community, and identity. From evaluating the health impact of racial underrepresentation on media, to investigating food gentrification in Chicago, her research has focused on better understanding the identities we hold and how they relate to the communities in which we live.

In her spare time…

Rheanna enjoys concerts, novels about multi-generational families, and eating dumplings.