A little bit about me.

I am currently a postdoctoral research associate in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, and the managing editor of the journal Studies in Comparative International Development. I earned my PhD in political science at the University of New Mexico, where I was a Latin American and Iberian Institute PhD Fellow.

My dissertation, “Women’s Property Ownership and Empowerment in Latin America” explored the conditions under which women’s property ownership provides leverage at the household level. Focusing on Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras, my analysis underscored the importance of property ownership in women’s decision-making ability, their experiences of intimate partner violence, and vulnerability to marital coercion. I argued that access to property is a major lever which has the potential to encourage a change in norms, particularly for the most marginalized women.

My broader research combines intersectional theory and innovative methodological approaches (both qualitative and quantitative) to unpack and address inequities in political and economic development in countries across the world. This includes questions about women and empowerment, experiences of intimate partner violence, bodily autonomy, environmental justice and health inequalities, decision-making and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH), and violence against marginalized leaders during times of crisis.

In my spare time, I like to hike whenever possible (also the origin of many of the pictures featured here! The two on this page are from the Southwest Virginia part of the Appalachian mountains, where I grew up).