Currently, I am enrolled in a doctoral program in the Department of Sociology at the University of Kentucky. My dissertation proposal focuses on coalitions that assist people in traveling for abortions as mitigators of structural violence. In addition, I am an instructor for SOC 101 and Sociology of Gendered Violence in Families at the university. I also serve as a research assistant for another university, analyzing potential contraceptive-related non-response issues in national surveys such as the NSFG and BRFSS. Lastly, I volunteer as a research assistant for the Kentucky Reproductive Freedom Fund to support its mission of reinstating the constitutional right to abortion.
Thinking sociologically has come in handy a couple of times in my sociology PhD program! All jokes aside, thinking sociologically benefits my general way of thinking and especially when faced with new information or topics. Looking through a lens of sociological theory and understanding allows me to critically analyze systems and structures to better understand power dynamics that surround us. It has opened my eyes to the importance of rural sociology, especially coming from a city like Chicago, to value and appreciate people from all walks of life. Moreover, with the recent political climate in 2025, it helps me evaluate information and its validity - something that can be difficult in a world with omnipresent media, opinions, and information. Personally, it has made me much more focused in my passion for social justice and has given me frameworks to critically think and act in ways that have an impact on marginalized communities.