In any research project I pursue, I always try to understand how historical context and socio-cultural power dynamics inform present-day phenomena. Likewise, when teaching, I try to facilitate learning about historical context and socio-cultural power dynamics as they pertain to any course subject. Topics for research and learning are always interconnected across time, space, and discipline, so examining these relationships enables deeper and more holistic understanding of any subject.

Welcome! I look forward to learning with you. In my classes, my goal is to make learning personal, to find ways to connect global issues, theories, and concepts with each person’s individual goals and interests. I invite students to be reflective about their own experiences and assumptions, and to consider the ways they can expand their knowledge collaboratively with those who have different experiences and assumptions. Learning in this way is not always easy, but my hope is to make it engaging and inspiring.

Prior to joining the SIPS faculty, I spent two years as a JSPS postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Tokyo. I also spent six years as an adjunct faculty instructor (graduate and undergraduate level) at the University of Maryland and University of Hawai’i. I hold a Ph.D. in International Education Policy from the University of Maryland, an M.A. in Religion from the University of Hawai’i, and a B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Chico.