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About Me

 I currently hold a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of St Andrews with the PeaceRep Team doing database work on Global Fragmentation and Peacebuilding. I am looking forward to my upcoming visiting fellowship with the Institute for European Global Studies, Universität Basel on “Natural Resources as Objects of Conflict.” I have a Ph.D. in political science from Loyola University Chicago. I study climate change, migration, and conflict and my dissertation work lies at the intersection of Comparative Politics and International Relations. I have several related projects in the fields of the economics of migration, environmental constitutionalism, and peace studies. My expertise lies in quantitative research methodology and data science, and I possess proficient skills in these areas (see my CV). 

Throughout my doctoral program, I engaged in a several university service positions including acting as an evaluator for the Loyola Undergraduate Research & Engagement Symposium, the president of the Graduate Student Advisory Council, a judge and moderator at the Loyola Graduate Research Symposium, the vice president of the Political Science Graduate Student Association, an Undergraduate Research Mentor, and an organizer for the Graduate School Information Event(s) for Loyola undergraduates.  

Furthermore, I am trained in several languages including Arabic, Turkish, and Spanish. My volunteer work with RefugeeOne and Project Elea have allowed me to tutor refugees of a variety of ages and countries of origin. 

In my freetime, I enjoy meditation, yoga, reading, playing video games, and playing with data!

 

Invited Lectures and Presentations

2023-2025

Invited Talks
Harvard Law School, University of Oxford, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, University of California Berkeley, University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews, Trinity College Dublin, University of Oregon, University of Strathclyde, Lafayette College

2025

Bridging the Gap - International Policy Summer Institute (IPSI)
Washington, D.C.

APSA Research Group
Invited Participant, Advancing the Use of Computational Tools in Political Science

Junior Scholars in Quantitative Conflict Workshop Series
Invited Talk, "Geography of Peace: Proximity and Success in Conflict Resolution"

Rebel Financing and Rebels’ Use of Economic Instruments for Rebel Governance Pre-Conference Workshop
Presenter, "The Role of Militarized Mediators in Modern Insurgencies"

2024

“Anthropocene” Ringvorlesung Lecture Series
Universität Basel
Invited Lecture on Anthropocenic Mobilities

Violence, Instability, and Peace (VIP) Workshop
Invited workshop of project on humanitarian-based conflict mediation post-displacement shocks

Progress, Pitfalls, and Promises of Political Science in Migration and Citizenship Research
Inaugural APSA Virtual Research Meeting

PGR Methods Café
Roundtable Discussant for Quantitative Methods, University of St Andrews

2023

Public Policy and Foreign Policy Decision-Making
Invited Lecturer

Solutions to Environmental Problems (STEP): Climate Action
Invited Speaker, "Migration-Preventative Adaptation Responses"

Back in Business: Bringing Firms into Global Local Networks of Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding
Invitation-only session, ISA Annual Convention, Montréal

2022

Journeys in World Politics
University of Iowa
Sponsored by Women in Conflict Studies (WICS)

Ideas, Interests, Institutions, & Nation-state Climate Politics: Mitigators, Adapters, & Mitigator-Adapters Workshop
Tulane University

2021

PLSC 374: Democracy
Invited Lecturer, "The Intersection of Democracy and Refugee Rights"

 

Honors and Awards

2025

  • APSA First-generation Scholar Award, Diversity and Inclusion Program

  • APSA Early Career Scholar Mentorship Program, Diversity and Inclusion Program

2024

  • APSA Best Dissertation Prize, Migration & Citizenship Section, Honorable Mention

  • Foreign Commonwealth Development Office of the United Kingdom, Conflict Data and Research Grant

2023

  • World Wildlife Fund, Fishery, Conflict, and Climatological Data and Research, Award: $20,000

  • Equity in Quantitative Research Fellow, Institute for Racial Justice (IRJ)

  • Gannon Graduate Leadership Fellow

  • ISA Pay It Forward Travel Grant & Mentoring Program, Award: $500

  • ISA Research Workshop Award (Collaborator on Proposal), Award: $2,500

  • Fulbright U.S. Scholarship Program (Istanbul, Turkey), Selected as Alternate

  • Box-Steffensmeier Scholarship, Award: Fully funded ICPSR methods courses for both sessions

  • Loyola Rule of Law Institute – Graduate Student Fellow, Award: $3,500

  • Institute of Turkish Studies Language Grant Awardee, Award: $3,000

  • International Studies Sponsorship, Iowa State University, Award: $1,500

2022

  • ISSS Pay It Forward Mentoring Program for Early Career Women

2018

  • IMISCOE/Association of Migration (GAR) Doctoral Research Award, Funded PhD Summer School

2017

  • Dwight Ink Scholar, Iowa State University, Award: $1,000

Professional Affiliations

    • 2024-Present: Network for Climate, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (STACEES), University of St Andrews

    • 2023-Present: Fellow at the Centre for Global Law and Governance, University of St Andrews

    • 2023-Present: Private Enterprise and Peace (PEP) Lab Research Affiliate

    • 2022-Present: American Political Science Association (APSA), Migration & Citizenship; Conflict Processes

    • 2022-Present: International Studies Association (ISA), Environmental Studies; Peace Studies

    • 2022-Present: National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD)

    • 2016-Present: Pi Sigma Alpha – The National Political Science Honor Society

    • 2018-2023: Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA)

    • 2020-2023: Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC), President (2022), Secretary (2021), Political Science Department Delegate (2020)

Professional and Community Service

    • 2020-Present: Reviewer, Journal of Politics, Review of International Political Economy, International Migration

    • 2023-2024: Junior Scholars in International Security (JSISE), Organizer

    • Summer 2023: Loyola Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, Graduate Intern

    • 2022-2023: Symposium Co-Organizer and Moderator, Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Symposium

    • Summer 2022: Loyola Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program

    • Spring 2022: Loyola Undergraduate Research & Engagement Symposium, Evaluator

    • 2019-2023: RefugeeOne, English Tutor, Chicago, IL

    • Summer 2019: Project Elea Refugee Camp, Teacher, Athens, Greece

    • 2015-2018: Court-Appointed Special Advocate, Child Advocate, Ames, IA