I am an Assistant Professor of Politics in the Politics Department at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. I teach The Politics of Latin America, Government and Politics in Global Perspective, The Politics of Transnational Migrants, The Politics of Immigration, and Mexican Politics. My research interests include the effects of international migration on the politics of migrant producing states, international dimensions of domestic politics, international diffusion, transnational civil society, regional integration, Latin American politics, and U.S. and Latin American relations. 

I have received various research fellowships including a Transnationalism Fellowship from the Mexico-North Research Network (summer, 2003), a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (2003-2006), a Joe R. Long Dissertation Fellowship (2006-2007), a Malcom McDonald Summer Research Fellowship (2007), Republic of Mexico Solidaridad Endowed Presidential Fellowship (2006-2007), the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands Fellowship (2006), and a William S. Livingston Graduate Fellowship (2007-2008). I was also named a Graduate Fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science in 2007.

I have a Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin, a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a B.A. in International Relations from Pomona College. I served in the U.S. Foreign Service in Mexico and India from 1998- 2002.