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 a 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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Before becoming an Assistant Professor at my alma mater, the University of South Carolina, I received my Ph.D. at Brown University, a Master's in Black Politics from Howard University. My undergraduate degrees are in Political Science & English. 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 address the lack of access and opportunities for students in my hometown.​

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

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