About Me

Personal Background:

I was born and raised in Glover Park, Washington, D.C. and I am a native Washingtonian. My parents inspired me to concentrate on causes related to social justice. This meant that giving back and helping others is a primary part of our family values, and it is something I carry with me today. I completed my undergraduate studies in economics at Emory University in Atlanta. I left the U.S.A. for Geneva, Switzerland, where I studied for my master's and doctorate in economics at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies. I am a native English speaker, but I am proficient in French and Spanish. I have a B2 certificate (intermediate) in the French language.

Interest in Economics:

My interest in economics started at Northern Virginia Community College, where I was a student. I studied introductory macroeconomics during the peak of the 2008 financial crisis. I had a great teacher (Bill MckNaught) who spent much of the lecture talking about what was going on in the global economy. This experience showed me how econ had the power to explain important phenomena happening in the world around us. While studying at Emory University, I became interested in development economics, and focused my efforts on using economics to try to understand low-income countries, and individuals struggling to get by or who are in poverty. I committed to becoming a development economist and working in the field of international development so that I could apply economics skills to improve individual and collective well-being.

I completed my graduate studies (2012-2020) in Geneva, Switzerland, at The Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies. There I developed my love for econometrics due to my supervisors, Jean-Louis Arcand, and Nicolas Berman as well as many other professors including Ugo Panizza, and Cedric Tille.

In 2014, I had an important experience as an intern at the Environment and Production Technology Division at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).  Supported by my co-author and current colleague, Jawoo Koo, as well as Carlo Azzarri and Beliyou Haile, I learned more about the significance of agriculture in economic development. Working at IFPRI infused me with a passion for the importance of agricultural markets and systems to food security. Since that time, food security and rural agricultural development have been a central theme for my research, and I am grateful to continue to collaborate with IFPRI researchers.

While at IFPRI, guided by my colleagues, I began to detail biases against women in agriculture in developing countries. Our work led us to identify and analyze the particular issues faced by widowed and divorced households in developing countries. These issues affect women who are vulnerable, but those same women are also an important part of the economic ecosystem. If those women are better off, it will make us all better off.