Heather is an economic and environmental anthropologist. She has managed a range of projects spanning topics such as household finances, natural resources, and economics. Using her background as a qualitative researcher examining processes of inequality impacting marginalized groups, Heather has designed and implemented a variety of qualitative studies. She has also used her training to enhance data quality on survey research projects. 

On the Survey of Consumer Finances, Heather has served as lead of data quality since 2019. As part of this work, she developed comprehensive interviewer training modules, preparing staff for the wide variety of households and characteristics they encounter during data collection, conducted a qualitative analysis of survey non-participation, led the effort to prepare for data quality and data delivery in 2025, and managed the materials and mailings teams.  

For the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation, Heather led cognitive testing of this longitudinal survey, generating key insights to modernize the survey instrument to reflect contemporary engagements with wildlife (such as the growing use of cell phones for wildlife photography).

Prior to joining NORC, Heather designed and conducted original research in the United States and Latin America regarding socio-cultural elements of economic development, including work on the informal economy, tourism, the construction of childhood, barriers to entrepreneurship, workplace safety, violence, and migration.