My research investigates how immigration enforcement shapes inequality across race, ethnicity, and legal status, with a particular focus on the health and social consequences of immigration raids. Using rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods, I study how contact with the criminal legal and immigration systems produces disparities in child well-being, family stability, and community health. My work bridges public policy, migration, and inequality, and has been published in Social Science & Medicine, International Migration Review, and Social Forces.
As Principal Investigator of the RAIDS Project at Boston University, I led a research team documenting the frequency, geography, and community impacts of immigration raids in the United States. This work included securing competitive grant funding, building collaborative partnerships, and mentoring over 30 undergraduate research assistants through data-intensive projects, grant writing, and graduate school applications.
I earned my Ph.D. in Public Policy from Cornell University, was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Boston University’s Center for Innovation in Social Science, and am currently a T32 NIH Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Population Center.
Alongside research, I am deeply committed to teaching. Over ten semesters, I have cultivated inclusive and challenging classrooms that encourage students to think critically about inequality and policy, a commitment consistently reflected in strong teaching evaluations.
Beyond academia, I am an avid traveler, language enthusiast, small business owner, and proud cat mom.