Hi! I’m Jennifer, a PhD Candidate in the Supply Chain & Information Systems department (minor: Social Data Analytics) at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University.

My research looks at domestic and international supply chains in conjunction with responsible operations, sourcing complexity, and labor. I am particularly interested in issues impacting firms that are attempting to manage compounding uncertainties, including evolving regulatory environments, rapid technological advances, and social awareness. My current projects include topics related to conflict mining & the critical mineral supply chain, trade (de)regulations, and reverse-engineering the strategic facility planning for illicit business networks. Within my research, I employ a variety of empirical methods, including (but not limited to!) econometrics, machine learning / AI, geospatial analyses, data analytics, network science, and simulations.

Before joining the PhD program at Penn State, I worked as a global trade compliance specialist for a third-party logistics company and as a witness & trial coordinator for the Specialty Unit (involving human trafficking cases) within the 20th Judicial Circuit - State Attorney's Office in Florida. One of my most formative (and personally rewarding) experiences was getting to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Western Samoa, where I taught literacy, computer skills, and music.  

I am on the 2026 - 27 academic job market -- feel free to explore my site to learn more about my research and teaching!

I will also be at the 2026 INFORMS Annual Meeting and DSI -- see below for more details:

INFORMS (San Francisco, CA)  

Date: November 2, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Room: Moscone South-311 (Level 3)

Title: Distant Mines, Local Risks: The Impact of Deregulation on Fissured Workforce Risk Management Systems (Updated - 10/22/2026)

Decision Sciences (San Francisco, CA) - 2 Presentations

Date #1: November 21, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Room: Floor: 2nd Floor, Foothill A

Title: Modeling Illicit Massage Business Location Dynamics - A Network Simulation Approach

Date #2: November 23, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Room: Floor: 2nd Floor, Foothill C

Title: Distant Mines, Local Risks: The Impact of Deregulation on Fissured Workforce Risk Management Systems (Doctoral Research Showcase)