She earned her doctorate at the University of Texas, San Antonio where she was awarded a fellowship from the USDA. Her research focuses on Chicano/a-Latino/a cultural studies, Chicana feminisms, and food studies. Her most recent research project is an investigation of Mexican restaurants and the relationship between food, race, and space. She has published in the Journal of Latinos and Education and Educators of Urban Minorities. She is currently working on a book manuscript on Chicano/a food representations of identity in literature, visual art, performance, print media, and history. Her future research will examine Chicana/o food representations in film and music. Prior to joining academe, she worked at community-based and school-based organizations and the cultural affairs department for the City of San Antonio, Texas.