I am an assistant professor of sociology and public policy at UNC Charlotte. I earned my PhD in Sociology in 2022 from Kent State University.
As a social psychologist, I use experimental and survey methods to study status and identity. My research bridges basic science and contemporary social problems. My current work aims to develop theoretical and sociological accounts of political polarization, informed by symbolic interactionist and group process theories. Specific projects explore 1) why individuals avoid or participate in politics, 2) the conflict dynamics of polarization, and 3) how polarization fractures a shared understanding of reality.