I grew up around story-tellers, history buffs, and avid news readers; it wasn't until college that I realized I wanted to contribute something to our understanding of the world. I appreciate that sociology interweaves the past, present, and future; it seeks to understand the roots of things, where we are today, and where we might be going. 

Research, for me, is also equal parts personal journey and communal endeavor. I pull much emotional energy and joy from the act of research: opening documents at the archives, talking with strangers about what matters to them, and finding patterns in statistical data. Sociology in particular offers a home to many of my interests, and there's much room still to grow through interdisciplinary collaboration. Meeting people along the way -- in the classroom, in conferences, in Zoom rooms and community centers -- is one of the most exciting and enriching experiences of this vocation. 

Work, while meaningful, isn't everything. In my spare time, I like running and biking, cooking and spending time with loved ones. I painted a lot in years past, with many examples here.