She received her Ph.D. from the University of California at Davis in 2008. Her research and teaching interests are in the areas of international relations and political methodology, with emphasis on international conflict and conflict management. She is also interested in strategic studies, international organizations and foreign policy decision-making. Her research on third party interventions in international conflicts and the dynamics of conflict expansion has been published in International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Conflict Management and Peace Science, and International Interactions. Her current research is on the role of the private sector in peace and conflict.