Her scholarly interests include spatial theory, geography education, civic education, and schooling and equity, particularly in relation to gender and sexuality. Her current research titled A Space Called School, explores how young people experience and create civic experiences in schools. She is also conducting research on how African immigrant youth navigate New York City and schools beneath a problematic narrative of the continent titled Merging Landscapes. She has experience on educational projects and research in Malawi, South Sudan, South Africa, Uganda, and Ethiopia. She holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and an M.A. from the University of Michigan.