My dissertation examines the influence of social integration, ethnic organization, and Asian diversity on the electoral participation of Asian Americans.  My other research interests include theorizing the relationships between social and personal change with a focus on the interaction between structure and agency; examining the interaction of culture and power in the process of domination using a comparative historical approach; and quantitatively studying structural factors that promote a global collective consciousness.  My publications include a group paper in Mobilization on the use of newspapers in research, and a co-authored paper on the structural causes of opposition to same-sex marriage in state ballot initiatives for American Sociological Review. 

My experiences from living in almost every region of the United States fueled my passion for the study of race/ethnicity and social inequality—in all its many forms.  I graduated magna cum laude with honors in sociology from Brandeis University, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree.  I earned my Master of Human Relations degree from the University of Okalahoma Advanced Programs, and a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Notre Dame. 

In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors, visiting new places with my husband (and best friend), and catching up with family and friends scattered across the U.S.  I also like to relax with a good science-fiction/fantasy novel that models the possibilities of “What if…?”