Prior to joining COS Marisa completed one year of research experience in two different roles at Concordia University, in quantitative psychological research. In her first role, she collaborated with the Title IX coordinator and Dean of Students to lead a study as principal investigator focused on examining the linkages between fundamental and progressive Christian beliefs to sexual assault, bystander intervention, patriarchal views, and rape myth acceptance on all undergraduate students. Her role on this study included conducting literature reviews to find previously published measures and the creation of a new measure on progressive Christian beliefs. The purpose of the study was to inform development of education for students on sexual assault. In her second role, she interned as a research assistant at Concordia University Chicago. She assisted with the creation of a study on implicit views of socioeconomic status, self-efficacy, and projected social mobility in young children. For this study, she conducted a literature review to examine the validity of an emerging adulthood developmental theory. Marisa supports various types of qualitative research projects by maintaining internal databases, coding, data reporting, and conducting desk research.

Marisa graduated with honors from Concordia University Chicago in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in management.