She is a former secondary school science teacher and holds a K-12 Principal's License (administrative credential) from the state of Minnesota. Her research interests include sociocultural analysis of policy, the exploration of educational cultures and climates, and queer identities using ethnographic qualitative approaches as well as interdisciplinary mixed methods. She is a member of the executive committee of the Queer Studies SIG of the American Educational Research Association and co-facilitates Safe Zones trainings on the Cal State L.A. campus. Her work as an educator is driven by a commitment to creating inclusive learning environments that value diversity and promote equity for all students.