|
PhD, Sociology, Colorado State University
MA, International Development and Social Change, Clark University BA, Anthropology, University of Utah BA, French, University of Utah Curriculum Vitae |
I am a global sociologist working at the intersection of justice, transformation, and sustainability. My scholarship is grounded in feminist, antiracist, and decolonial approaches that challenge conventional development theory and practice. I am highly skilled in the use of qualitative, mixed, and participatory action research (PAR) methods, using these to stimulate multi-paradigmatic knowledge building activities and interdisciplinary engagements.
My professional background is diverse: I began my career in Japan as a foreign language teacher then became a Peace Corps volunteer in Latvia, where I developed a nationally accredited teacher training program. In and around graduate school, I returned to Latvia under a Fulbright grant, worked as a Fulbright Intern at UNESCO in France, organized assessments for grassroots organizations in Ghana and Namibia, and conducted dissertation fieldwork with small-scale farmers in South Africa. Currently, I am a sociology professor in Arizona where my scholarship has branched into development ethics and energy democracy. I am interested in developing partnerships that join food, energy, and water in praxis.
I also am an artist, poet, outdoor enthusiast, and Zen practitioner. I grew up roaming the trails of the American West, came of age in Salt Lake City's art scene, and began learning Zen in Japan. I have painted Latvian forests and hiked the South African Cederberg, along with many other mountains along the way. These creative interests inform my work as a scholar. Not only do I bring mindfulness into the classroom, teaching students that self-care is a necessity, not an option, but I also encourage students to imagine alternatives to development. I find that artistic expression helps me to develop cognitive flexibility, or the ability to navigate the complexities of a world in crisis and transition.
My professional background is diverse: I began my career in Japan as a foreign language teacher then became a Peace Corps volunteer in Latvia, where I developed a nationally accredited teacher training program. In and around graduate school, I returned to Latvia under a Fulbright grant, worked as a Fulbright Intern at UNESCO in France, organized assessments for grassroots organizations in Ghana and Namibia, and conducted dissertation fieldwork with small-scale farmers in South Africa. Currently, I am a sociology professor in Arizona where my scholarship has branched into development ethics and energy democracy. I am interested in developing partnerships that join food, energy, and water in praxis.
I also am an artist, poet, outdoor enthusiast, and Zen practitioner. I grew up roaming the trails of the American West, came of age in Salt Lake City's art scene, and began learning Zen in Japan. I have painted Latvian forests and hiked the South African Cederberg, along with many other mountains along the way. These creative interests inform my work as a scholar. Not only do I bring mindfulness into the classroom, teaching students that self-care is a necessity, not an option, but I also encourage students to imagine alternatives to development. I find that artistic expression helps me to develop cognitive flexibility, or the ability to navigate the complexities of a world in crisis and transition.
Languages
English, native proficiency; French, full professional proficiency; Latvian, professional working proficiency; Afrikaans, limited working proficiency; Spanish and Japanese, memorized proficiency.
Professional Associations
Member, American Sociological Association (ASA)
Member, Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS)
Member, International Sociological Association (ISA)
Member, Action Research Network of the Americas (ARNA)
Member, Fair Trade Society
English, native proficiency; French, full professional proficiency; Latvian, professional working proficiency; Afrikaans, limited working proficiency; Spanish and Japanese, memorized proficiency.
Professional Associations
Member, American Sociological Association (ASA)
Member, Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS)
Member, International Sociological Association (ISA)
Member, Action Research Network of the Americas (ARNA)
Member, Fair Trade Society
