She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Politics at Colorado State University and worked as a policy analyst for the U.S. Geological Survey, conducting research on environmental decision-making models and internal governance of watershed management councils. Her areas of research and writing focus on urban agriculture and local food economies, and she serves on multiple committees for the Rhode Island Food Policy Council. Her current research investigates the role of regional food distribution systems in increasing economic viability for small and mid-size farmers. She is especially interested in what policies, initiatives, and land-use planning decisions best strengthen sustainable, local food economies and how these policies impact underrepresented populations.