I earned my Ph.D. in Sociology from Virginia Tech. My research and teaching interests revolve around the political ecology of land, forests, and animals, Adivasi (indigenous) studies, ethnography, gender politics, and South Asia studies. Prior to joining the University of Missouri, I worked as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at DePauw University. 

 I've been actively involved in advocacy work related to food security and sovereignty with grassroots groups, specifically, subaltern communities in rural India. My research and teaching focuses on understanding people and communities through their own experiences. I emphasize the importance of sharing lived experiences in the classroom, using research to analyze social-political issues, and involving students in inquiry processes to create a collaborative learning environment. 

 Currently, I'm working on my book manuscript, which examines the question of indigeneity and the ongoing political struggle of the Adivasi (communities to protect their land in Jharkhand, India. This work is based on over nine years of politically engaged research and advocacy work with subaltern communities, covering topics like Munda politics, food sovereignty, gender politics, and development.