Previously she was a Survey Research Associate with the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRISS) at Colorado State University, and has consulted for state and federal government agencies in the U.S. and Canada. Her academic research draws on political behavior and public policy and administration, with a particular emphasis on the role of public engagement and science in policy decision-making and implementation, particularly regarding environmental and sustainability issues. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science in 2017 from Colorado State University, and prior to that earned her B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Iowa State University.