I am a Professor of Political Science and Director of the Dr. Robert E. Witt University Fellows Program in the Honors College at The University of Alabama. Witt Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process for a cohort-based program that seeks to prepare them for remarkable lives of leadership in and service to their community, state, nation, and world. Each cohort is comprised of students majoring in diverse disciplines such as engineering, philosophy, data science, economics, neuroscience, education, business, psychology, film studies, and more. Their diverse academic perspectives and talents are developed in the classroom and exercised through co-curriculum programming in areas such as understanding poverty, exploring citizenship, Asset-Based Community Development, entrepreneurship, international travel, faculty-mentored research, and service-learning, thus culminating in earning a minor in Social Innovation and Leadership.

I am passionate about international travel, professionally and personally. I recently worked on a multi-year USAID-funded grant providing women’s leadership and teaching workshops in Pakistan aimed at strengthening the Pakistani higher education system. I also direct study abroad programs and especially find meaning in taking students abroad who are first-time international travelers. I enjoy treks and recently completed El Camino de Santiago de Compostela and am looking forward to tackling the Tour du Mont Blanc in 2025.

My research interests lie in the areas of health policy, gender politics, and leadership. I am currently working on a book project focused on women’s leadership in higher education in the global context.