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Welcome, and thank you for visiting!
I am an Assistant Instructional Professor in the Committee on International Relations (CIR) at the University of Chicago, with affiliations in the Political Science Department and the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality. I earned my PhD in Political Science from The Ohio State University, specializing in International Relations with a minor in Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Politics. My research weaves together feminist and postcolonial thought, peace and conflict studies, African politics and security, and the layered role of gender in shaping the aftermaths of war. I am especially interested in how everyday people make sense of peace, and how gendered expectations persist and transform long after formal conflict ends. Drawing on interpretive methods and community-centered approaches, my work is grounded in the belief that paying close attention to lived experience can unsettle dominant narratives and open space for new political possibilities. |
My current book project, When Heroes Hurt: Masculinities and Everyday Violence After Postcolonial War, explores the enduring impact of war-linked masculinities and colonial legacies on everyday violence after war. Drawing from fieldwork in Northern Ireland and Burundi, I analyze how socialization into particular gendered roles during conflict—especially ‘good guy’ masculinities like providers, protectors, and liberators—can paradoxically fuel postcolonial violences in times commonly labeled 'peace.' Central to this work is a commitment to amplifying the lived experiences of everyday people striving toward futures beyond war. To learn about this project, as well as my other on-going research, click here.
I am also an award-winning educator, honored recently with the Early Career Instructor Excellence in Teaching Award from the International Studies Association's Education and Learning in International Affairs Section. My passion for critical approaches to political science pedagogy informs my ongoing research on syllabi as disciplinary narratives, as well as my published work on peace education in post-conflict classrooms. Teaching brings me immense joy, and over the years, I have embraced diverse educator roles—from elementary schools and peace dialogue workshops to preschool gymnastics coaching and leading a Girl Scouts troop for six years. To explore my teaching philosophy and courses I’ve designed or instructed, click here.
I am also an award-winning educator, honored recently with the Early Career Instructor Excellence in Teaching Award from the International Studies Association's Education and Learning in International Affairs Section. My passion for critical approaches to political science pedagogy informs my ongoing research on syllabi as disciplinary narratives, as well as my published work on peace education in post-conflict classrooms. Teaching brings me immense joy, and over the years, I have embraced diverse educator roles—from elementary schools and peace dialogue workshops to preschool gymnastics coaching and leading a Girl Scouts troop for six years. To explore my teaching philosophy and courses I’ve designed or instructed, click here.