I work as an applied sociologist as a faculty member at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I live in Edwardsville with my husband Drew, who is a nurse with Seasons Hospice, and our four-year-old son Lev. Prior to my PhD studies, I worked as a community organizer for Americans for Democratic Action, taught middle school math and Kindergarten, and worked for the Sierra Club. I served four years (two terms) as a city councilperson in Newark, Delaware, during which I was the youngest elected official in the state. I have a BA in Politics from Oberlin College, an MPA in State & Local Management from the University of Delaware, an MA in Secondary Teaching from Wilmington University, and a PhD in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire.