I’m a mixed methods researcher with a PhD in Political Science from The Ohio State University, where I specialized in Comparative Politics and Political Economy. Before Ohio State, I earned an MA in Climate and Society from Columbia University (2013) and a BA in Political Science, with a minor in Astronomy, from Wellesley College (2010).

My academic research examines the links between climate volatility and political violence in sub-Saharan Africa. This work focuses on how small-holder farmers across the region seek out the protection and assurance of social groups—especially armed groups—in order to reduce the psychological and economic burden of climate-linked economic uncertainty. More recently, my work has centered on understanding the drivers of political participation with the goal of increasing representation of historically marginalized populations in the democratic process.

Over the course of my career, I’ve conducted fieldwork in Uganda and Mongolia and worked with organizations such as the Red Cross, the Earth Institute, and the World Bank on climate change and social inclusion issues. I have extensive training in both qualitative and quantitative methods and am excited to help your organization find the insights it’s looking for.

I currently live in Washington DC, and in my free time you can find me exploring nearby trails with my dog, learning about photography, and working on my first novel.