Research Interests
My research is at the intersection of climate change, environmental injustice and food-system failures and crosses several subfields, including: environmental sociology, social movements, agroecology, and critical geography. Broadly speaking, I research activism and mobilization to understand how, why, and under what conditions communities to respond and adapt to global climate change, environmental injustice, and food-system failures. Moreover, I explore how climate change impacts people, organizations, and marginalized communities, and how these changes exacerbate structural inequalities.
My dissertation explores agroecological initiatives in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria, and centers on the actors and organizations working to develop sustainable alternatives in the face of climate change. I employ a mixed-methods approach, comprised of field research, in-depth interviews, media analysis, discourse analyses, survey data, and archival research to expose how a disaster, climate change, and socio-political conflict catalyzed agroecology and food sovereignty mobilization in Puerto Rico. Using a political economic analysis of agrarian change, I highlight how a pervasive legacy of colonialism contributed to the failed food system in Puerto Rico . I also expose the unifying frames enabling the convergence of agroecology, food justice, climate justice, environmental justice organizations. Finally, through interviews with agroecological activists and farmers, I make the case that agroecology is an inclusive and woman-led movement.
Additionally, I am involved in several applied projects geared toward "sustainable" ,"just", and "equitable" societal transformation. One project involves institutional procurement of local and sustainable food at Ohio State University, including an exploration of the capacity of anchor institutions to create resilient, sustainable food systems and promote sustainable community development. Additionally, I am a core team member for an ongoing project, the One Linden Cooperative Community-University Partnership for Social Justice, Local Food, and Community Economic Development. This is an applied research project geared toward developing a cooperative, worker-owned business in a marginalized, and predominantly Black, community in Columbus, Ohio, with the goal of establishing an alternative economic model and encouraging sustainable growth.