About Me

Hi! I am Assistant Professor of Political Science at Swarthmore College. My current research focuses primarily on American political development and the historical political economy of the United States. My secondary research interests include public policy research and American political behavior. 

My book project explores the political economy of race and incarceration in the 19th century American South. However, my research projects span a wide variety of topics, including gender-based violence, women in politics, voter mobilization efforts as well as remembrance culture in the United States.

I received my Ph.D. from the Department of Politics at Princeton University in 2022. At Princeton, I was the recipient of the Harold W. Dodds Honorific Fellowship in 2021/22, which represents the highest commendation of the Princeton University Graduate School. I was also a fellow of the 2019/20 cohort of the Fellowship of Woodrow Wilson Scholars, a Princeton program that supports scholars with a public policy research focus.

Before I started my doctoral studies, I received a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where I was a McCloy Fellow and received the Jane Mansbridge Research Award for my Master’s thesis. I completed a B.A. in Political Science at Freie Universität in Berlin and was a fellow of the German National Merit Foundation throughout my undergraduate studies.

Outside of the Academy

I am a co-founder of the Philadelphia Behavioral Science Initiative (www.phillybsi.org), which works closely with the Philadelphia Office of the Mayor to promote the use of data-driven social science interventions in local government operations.

In the past, I worked for the Gender and Development Group at the World Bank, the German Development Corporation (GIZ), the European Union Delegation to the United States, as well as the European Parliament. I have also completed a number of consultancy assignments, for example for the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation in Australia.

The Fun Stuff

Outside of academia, I enjoy spending time with my partner, Syon Bhanot, and our two puppies, Lola and Humphrey.

I also love working with my hands. I am a largely self-taught woodworker and enjoy building Japanese-style, contemporary furniture in my garage workshop—see a few of my recent pieces below!