

A Cross-Boundary Social Science of Trust
Trust matters.
Social theorists have long argued that the fundamentally uncertain nature of the human experience necessarily positions trust as a precondition of social cohesion but the events of the last few years have brought questions of trust to the forefront. Understanding, building, and repairing trust has become critical for the effective function of policing, public health, and even higher education itself. Although much has been done to investigate these issues, little has been done to integrate this work to develop a cross boundary understanding of the construct. Thus, despite a need for it in virtually every human interaction, trust research remains typified by contextual and disciplinary silos.
My program of research, teaching, and service takes a deliberately interdisciplinary approach to bridging these boundaries through efforts that seek to synergistically advance the scientific literature, train the next generation of trust scholars, and ensure strong potential for broader impact.

...the present is the only thing of which a man can be deprived, if it is true that this is the only thing which he has, and that a man cannot lose a thing if he has it not.
“Tell me one last thing, Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
Current Projects
Status | Project Name | Project Type | Link |
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2014 | MSU Superfund Research Center | Research Collaboration | https://iit.msu.edu/centers/superfund/ |
2015 | Flint Water Community Narratives Group | Research Collaboration | https://michr.umich.edu/resources/2020/2/18/community-voice-on-the-flint-water-crisis-a-trust-study |
2018 | Public Engagement Pilot Projects | Research Collaboration | https://www.ncsc.org/topics/court-community/public-trust-and-confidence/public-engagement-pilot-projects |
2020 | Making it Easier to Report | Research Collaboration | https://www.unomaha.edu/ncite/research/research-projects/making-it-easier-to-report.php |
2020 | Identifying the Critical Trustees for Increasing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Disenfranchised Communities | Research Project | |
2020 | Improving Officer Safety and Decision-making by Understanding and Harnessing Within-Officer States and Between-Officer Traits | Research Project | https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1949083&HistoricalAwards=false |
Media
Video/Audio Interviews
Media Mentions
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Whitmer pledged openness. Lately, silence is default for Michigan governor
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After ELPD survey results, road to meaningful reform is discussed
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Michigan Democrats ‘in knots’ as calls to ‘defund the police’ grow louder
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What does it mean to defund the police in Detroit, one of the most violent cities in the U.S.?
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Michigan man living in ocean has desperate plea: Thai government 'wants us killed'
Research Summaries