I am a PhD Candidate at the University of California, Irvine, in Political Science. My fields are International Relations and Gender and Politics. My current research focuses on the role of women and gender in peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction. My dissertation examines the effects of different forms of women's participation in peace processes on women's political empowerment in post-conflict states.

My other research interests include the Women, Peace, and Security agenda; peace processes and conflict resolution; gender and politics; gender and conflict; international security; international negotiations; diplomacy; and East Asian Security. My research has been supported by the Kugelman Citizen Peacebuilding Research Fellowship, the Institute for Humane Studies Fellowship, and a University of California Office of the President grant.

Previously, I worked as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, where I served in Hong Kong, Doha, and Washington, DC.