Her research focuses on the cultural production of schools and schooling, and the intersection of in- and out-of-school experiences of students. She is particularly interested in the perspectives and experiences of those that are marginalized by educational institutions. Most recently, she conducted an ethnography of a high school in northern Mexico to examine the perspectives of Mexican students and teachers on a 2008 federal high school reform that was influenced by transnational organizations, such as the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, as well as secondary education reforms in Europe. The project highlighted current trends in the global flow of education policies from the Global North to the Global South.