I was born and raised in North Dakota, and I earned my BA in political science from Minnesota State University Moorhead. I went on to earn a master’s degree in security and intelligence studies at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.

After a couple of years on the East Coast, I moved to northern California, where I earned my PhD in political science from the University of California, Davis. At UC-Davis, my subfields in political science were international relations and political methodology (applied statistics).

My dissertation examined how status and prestige motivations influence the foreign policy behavior of states.

My current research examines the relationship between status and prestige and

1. foreign aid and peacekeeping,
2. arms and military build-ups, and
3. conflict.

My main goals are to provide students with

1. the ability to critically analyze and evaluate issues and ideas and
2. to synthesize and communicate their analyses.

This involves looking for empirical patterns to support or contradict theories, critically analyzing current events, and presenting arguments and supporting evidence in a clear, concise, and convincing manner. As a result, I emphasize the link—often the lack thereof—between academic debates and theories with policymaking.

The purpose of emphasizing the academic-policymaking link is to provide students a toolbox in order for them to be an active citizen in a global community. Students can also expect a heavy reliance on data in my courses.

I enjoying spending time with my partner, Alexis, my cats, Lewis and Clark, and my niece, Norah. I also like to read (ranging from spy novels, the American West, wine, military history, and nuclear weapons), traveling, cooking (mostly Mexican cuisine), running and hiking. I still enjoy basketball, so let me know if there is a pick-up game!