Welcome!

I am the James & Kaye Crocker Endowed Professor of Political Science and an assistant professor of political methodology in the Department of Political Science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Geaux Cajuns ⚜! I received a Ph.D. in Political Science from Texas A&M University in May 2023.

My research broadly explores elite behavior, oversight, and representation. I am interested in when and how women access elected and appointed positions, how a politician's gender shapes their strategic behavior, and how institutional changes may limit available strategies. Additionally, my research explores dimensions of quality of government as it relates to corruption, trust, and representation, with a focus in Latin America and the US.

My current research focuses on how the personal characteristics of politicians, including educational and professional backgrounds, shape the strategies they adopt in office and their subsequent career trajectory.