I am an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department at Louisiana State University. In 2023, I completed my doctorate at Cornell University, where I was a graduate fellow at the Gender and the Security Sector Lab.

My research interests include African politics, state-building and the role of security forces in society.

My research has been published in the Journal of Peace Research, The Journal of Politics, and other academic outlets. I have received funding for my research from the National Science Foundation, the National Security Education Program, and the Judith Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies.

Originally from Colorado, I received a B.A. from Colby College and an M.A. from the University of Chicago before beginning my studies at Cornell.