Environmental Demographer; Climate Mobility, Livelihood Adaptation, and Resource Security Policy within Rural Coastal Communities
I’m a Ph.D. student in Rural Sociology and Demography at Penn State, where I research the intersection of climate change, mental health, and migration in rural coastal communities. I’m especially interested in the emotional and social dimensions of climate mobility: how caregiving roles, place attachment, and invisible labor influence migration decisions, and how rural communities adapt to or struggle with growing environmental pressures.
At the heart of my research is a commitment to making sure rural places are not left out of the conversation when it comes to climate adaptation. I care deeply about building more inclusive policies that reflect the lived realities of people in small flow communities.
If you’re working at the intersection of climate change, mental health, migration, or rural development, I’d love to connect.
Educational Experience
the Pennsylvania State University
ph.D. Rural Sociology & Demography
Tentative: May 2028
Brandeis University
the heller school for social policy & Management
M.A. Sustainable International Development
August 2022 - May 2024
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Multidisciplinary Studies, B.S.
Political Science, Sociology, History
August 2017 - August 2021
Relevant Coursework
the Pennsylvania State University
Internal and international migration
multivariate statistics
international rural social change
the heller school for social policy & Management
Agriculture and Rural Development
Interdisciplinary Applied Research and Design for Development
Livelihoods, Enterprises, and Development
Monitoring and Evaluation
Planning and Implementation
Policy Analysis and Design in a Developing World
certifications and licenses
CITI: Responsible Conduct of Research - Basic
(ID 103746)
CITI: Social & Behavioral Human Subjects Research
(ID 40767)
CITI: International Research - SBR
(ID 55076)
CQ: An equity and inclusion masterclass
(ID 115805484)
Professional Experience
UNSDSN Black Cleveland Audit
may 2025 - Present
sustainability and resiliency consultant
Northeast Ohio public energy Council
April 2024 - July 2024
- Data analysis
Sustainable Development Intern
Cleveland foundation
February 2023 - March 2024
- Identify and validate data sources and create visualization of data
- Assist in implementing a model of collaborative action and collective leadership for systems change
Operations
EZPolitix, LLC
March 2020n - May 2022
- Oversaw daily operations of political call/text center: hiring, payroll, campaign scripting & management
- Solely led two state- and municipal-level political campaigns, collaborated on multiple national and international political campaigns
Business Development Manager
The Asteroid House
December 2019 - March 2022
- Co-developed initial and COVID-19 strategic business plan
- Implementation of stage two of business plan which includes free creative writing workshops, digital advertisement, and partner organization connections
Congressional Intern
Office of Congressman Bacon
August 2019 - December 2019
- Created talking points for the Congressman in preparation for a trade speech for a Hungarian Delegation Breakfast
- Restructured several office management systems including supply ordering and constituent intake data for increased efficiency
Walgreens Boot Alliance
Assistant Store Manager:
December 2016 - May 2019
Shift Lead/Assistant Store Manager Trainee:
June 2013 - December 2016
Customer Service Representative/Beauty Advisor:
September 2012 - June 2013
- Devised and published metrics to measure the beauty adviser team's success in delivering exceptional customer service and goal completion with a personalized rewards system for each advisor
- Cross-trained and backed up other customer service associates and shift leads on operating procedures, and company services and policies
Quantitative and applied skills
Statistical Software: Stata SE 18
- data cleaning, coding, analysis
GIS & Mapping: QGIS, ArcGIS, Story Maps
Survey Design & Development
Interdisciplinary Research Design
Monitoring and Evaluation
Research Experience
the Pennsylvania State University
Research assistant, dr. guangqing chi
environmental demography network (EDEN) lab
august 2024 - present
- Contributing to POLARIS Project (NSF #1927827) and RETRACE Project (NSF #2420587)
REsearch assistant, dr. brian thiede
august 2024 - present
the heller school for social policy & Management
Research assistant, center for global development & sustainability
May 2023 - March 2024
teaching Experience
guest instructor: Climate migration workshop
the heller school for social policy & Management
march 2023, March 2024
sustainability and resiliency consultant
- Delivered a one-hour overview of environmental, political, societal, and economic drivers of climate migration in the Europe-Sahel context
Course Assistant
the heller school for social policy & Management
Jan 2023 - March 2024
- Courses: Shifting Developing Paradigms; Development Aid; Introduction to Demography; Planning & Implementation; Contemporary Issues in African Development; Measurement of Income Inequality; Survey Design & Development
- Responsibilities: grading midterms & policy papers, leading discussions & labs, and holding weekly office hours
Publications
to be submitted
the Pennsylvania State University
- Educational Attainment and Climate Shocks using MICS Microdata Evidence
Presentations & Posters
ICSD Conference
September 2024
- "Climate mobility; A Catalyst for east caribbean development"
Honors and Awards
bunton wallter fellowship
the Pennsylvania State University
2024 - 2025
heller diversity, equity, and inclusion scholarship
the heller school for social policy & management
2022 - 2023
Professional memberships
American Sociological Association (ASA)
October 2024 - Present
Eastern Sociological Society (ESS)
October 2024 - Present
Population Association of America (PAA)
October 2024 - Present
Rural Sociological Society (RSS)
October 2024 - Present
Society for International Development (SID-US)
October 2022 - Present
professional service
Manuscript Reviewer
Population and Environment Journal
November 2024 - Present
Demography Graduate Association
the Pennsylvania State University
December 2024 - Present
Population and Environment Working Group
University of Wisconsin
November 2024 - Present
Rural Sociology Graduate Association,
The Pennsylvania state university
September 2024 - Present
Delta Scholars Week Co-Host (Brandeis Day)
the heller school for social policy & Management
November 2022, November 2023
- Assisted in panel and event pre-planning, including creating introduction statements for each speaker, schedule arrangement, and
- briefing panelists. Facilitated various panels discussing the parallels between global development issues and Delta-specific issues.
Editorial Assistant, J-caste Journal
the heller school for social policy & Management
May 2023 - March 2024
Heller Awards Committee
the heller school for social policy & Management
March 2023