Born and raised in lowcountry SC, I spent my undergraduate years working as a Legislative Aide at the SC House of Representatives. The opportunity to work closely with legislators in the SC House of Representatives catalyzed my academic journey in Political Science. I entered the South Carolina legislature as a Black woman from rural South Carolina, raised in a single-parent, low-income household, and first-generation student. My humble beginnings are an additional lens through which I would understand legislative politics and the intricacies of identity, representation, and political behavior. 

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As a Ph.D. candidate at Brown University, I am conducting research that challenges traditional theories of representation and agenda-setting by examining how ideological differences among Black members of Congress influence their willingness to advocate for issues that disproportionately affect Black communities.

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Prior to enrolling at Brown, I received a Master's in Black Politics from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & English from the University of South Carolina. My full CV can be found here.

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Beyond academia, I am a mentor for the Yawkey Foundation and the Lumiere Research program. I am also the founder of Lifting Our Youth, a nonprofit created to counteract the lack of access and opportunities available to students in my hometown.​

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In my free time, I enjoy reading memoirs and spending time outdoors.

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