ABOUT ALI

Welcome! It's lovely to have you here. Allow me to provide a quick introduction (as my friends and family will tell you, brevity is not always my strong suit).
I was born and raised in Chandler, Arizona but decided I needed a change of scenery for college and ended up at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri! My dad (from STL) was thrilled, and I have braved the weather for four years because Webster was the only university where I could pursue a BS in Psychology and a BFA in Acting concurrently. I'm proud to say I'll be the first person in the Sargent Conservatory to have achieved a double major in over 50 years! 
I am, first and foremost, a passionate advocate using my work to advocate for equitable support and treatment for all people. You will find that no matter the medium, each of my pursuits are intentionally crafted to uplift historically marginalized groups. This has led me to opportunities such as authoring a now-published article on advocacy in LGBTQ+ cancer care and helping rework classical acting course syllabi to reframe Ibsen and Chekhov for BIPOC and Queer students. 
After graduating in Spring of 2022, I plan to pursue a PhD in Counseling Psychology before becoming a Psycho-Oncologist, or someone who with cancer patients, their families, and physicians. Theatre will always be a part of my life, and I am always looking for exciting opportunities, so keep sending them my way! All of the psychology courses have helped me understand that it is important to have something that you do 100% for your own joy. Theatre is to keep my spirit bright, and psychology is for my mind, heart, and soul.