His research focuses on the role and representation of authenticity in American folklore and folklore studies, and his writings on the subject have appeared in such journals as The Journal of American Folklore, Weber: The Contemporary West and (dis)Closure: The Journal of Social Theory. A native and near-lifelong Nebraskan, Todd earned a Ph.D. in English with a specialization in American Folklore at the University of Missouri. Todd is Secretary of the Nebraska Folklife Network Board.