Interest and areas of expertise
Cultural anthropology, anthropology of religion, Christianity in the United States, gender and sexuality, and more recent work in studies of refugees in the United States
Education
- B.A. in Biblical Studies and B.A. in Religious Studies, Messiah College
- M.A. in Anthropology, University at Albany
- Ph.D. in Anthropology, University at Albany
Classes I teach
- Race and Gender in the United States
- Food, Power, and Society
Profile
As I researcher, I explore how Christian communities change as they face internal conflicts, such as conflicts over the role of women in church. I am interested in theological and personal reasons why Christian communities change policies or create new organizations. Professionally, I work full-time coaching volunteers as they assist refugees adjusting to the United States. For fun, I like trying new recipes from different countries and cultures around the world. I enjoy hiking, and covered bridges make me happy, so I enjoy the bridge on Messiah University's campus.