Sarita by the Tequila ExpressI am originally from Downey, California. As an undergraduate, I studied at the UC Irvine. After completing a B.A. in Sociology and Political Science, I attended graduate school at the University of Massachusetts. In 2008, I completed my PhD at UC Santa Cruz.

Over the last several years I have lived, worked, and studied in Chile, Mexico, Wales, and Spain. Most recently, I was in Guadalajara, Mexico, where for almost two years, I conducted fieldwork and wrote my dissertation. I have also been fortunate enough to teach in Oregon and Maine, beautiful states with great shorelines, farmers’ markets, and hiking.

When I’m not thinking about academic work, I’m plotting my next trip. I also enjoy reading biographies, finding interesting recipes on the internet, playing Scrabble, and relaxing at the dog park with my pooch.