About Me

I am a development economist with a focus on rural agricultural value chains. My research aims to improve current economic models and measurement as a means to progress economic advancement and the availability of nutritionally dense foods in domestic and international contexts.

My interest in development economics stems from growing up in rural Appalachian North Carolina, where I lived in a low-income setting and experienced firsthand the economic, educational, and health-based challenges of poverty in the United States. These experiences, along with my interdisciplinary background, have made me keenly aware of the multifaceted nature of poverty and the need for comprehensive approaches in overcoming it.

Outside of my research, I enjoy being outdoors, traveling, and playing intramural sports. I am also an avid follower of women's basketball and the NWSL (routing for the NC Courage, of course).