She graduated with a Ph.D. in History from the University of Michigan, M.A. in Historical Studies and Political Science from the New School for Social Research, and B.A. in History from Binghamton University. Her areas of interests include U.S. empire; comparative colonialisms; immigration and foreign policy; comparative race relations; U.S. imperialism in the Pacific; Philippine and Filipino American history; and war, citizenship, and African American history.