I am a doctoral fellow at the Interdisciplinary Center for Global Change and a Ph.D. candidate at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. My dissertation examines Ecuadorian feminist and LGBTIQ+ movements against gender-based violence (GBV) and how a discursive shift from violence against women to gender-based violence can challenge conventional perceptions of violence and help us better understand how movements and policymakers can more effectively combat GBV. I earned my Master's of Arts in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and my Bachelor's of Arts in International Affairs at the University of Cincinnati in my home state of Ohio, where I studied how the political Left Turn in Ecuador impacted the state responses to GBV. Before joining the Humphrey School, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay and worked as an advocate for survivors of GBV in the US and Ecuador for ten years. When I'm not researching I enjoy cooking, reading, and embroidery. 

I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Organizational Leadership and Policy Development (OLPD), studying higher education. Previously, I was at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where I received my master's degree in educational leadership and policy analysis, with a focus on educational policy analysis and evaluation. My research interests include academic freedom and tenure, and non-degree credential programs, like micro-credentials and certificates. In my free time, I enjoy running, playing tennis, and catching up on Real Housewives & Bravo shows.