Hello
Kia Ora

I recently earned my PhD in American Government from Georgetown University. My research focuses on the attitudes and participation of young people, particularly their role in political party coalitions. Using mixed methods, I explore age gaps within the American Democratic Party, examining differences in candidate and issue preferences.

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I am a research specialist at the Civic Education Research Lab at Georgetown. The research we do there fits nicely with my passion for the civic engagement of young people and my previous experience as a 7th grade social studies teacher. At CERL I help evaluate civic education programs and work with our partners to design powerful civics curriculums and interventions. My work work is a constant reminder of the power of young people, and I see civic education as a crucial tool for preparing the next generation to make a difference.

I am passionate about teaching and currently serve as an Adjunct Lecturer at Georgetown, where I teach an undergraduate research methods course. Previously, I served as the instructor of record for "Young People in American Politics," a course I designed based on my research, and the intro American government course. I am passionate about helping students explore their place in the political system and consider the actions they can take to create change. In my "Young People in American Politics" course, I developed a lesson using college yearbooks to study historical examples of political participation, which was published in the Journal of Political Science Education. You can read more about it here.

Originally from New Zealand, I moved to the United States when I was 12. I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and taught 7th grade social studies for three years before beginning my doctoral studies.