I have been studying politics my whole life. 

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When I was in elementary school, our mock election for the 1988 presidential elections grabbed my attention. I was one of two students in the entire grade to vote for Dukakis. That wasn't the interesting part. The interesting part was that the student teacher told me I should change my vote to be more like my peers. But I am stubborn and this seemed unethical to me on his part. And with that my study of the political behavior of Americans began.

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My research now is a bit more systematic. I focus on the intersection of political behavior and public policy. My guiding question remains somewhat similar: what gets people to change their minds politics, policy, and the law and why? Given my legal background, it is unsurprising that I am especially interested especially in policies that have legal implications in the courtroom, the workplace, in the accommodation of disabilities, and beyond. I am also very engaged in the scholarship of teaching and learning in political science and civic education. I see these two endeavors as linked and complimentary in many ways. 

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Prior to beginning my Ph.D. studies, I earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy and practiced law in Michigan. I also earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Political Science and French from Eastern Michigan University. I am currently teaching at the University of Michigan-Flint, where I also serve as the Director of the Master of Public Administration Program, Pre Law Advisor, as well as the faculty advisor to our Pi Sigma Alpha chapter and the Pre Law Society. Since 2019, I have coached the UM-Flint Moot Court Team.