I work at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs as an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Management. I am also an affiliate faculty member at UMN in the Sociology Department, at the Center on Women, Gender, and Public Policy, and at the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC). I am a member of the Faculty Committee for the Master’s in Development Practice Program.

• PhD Organization Studies, Stanford University (California, U.S.A.)

• M.A. Sociology, Stanford University (California, U.S.A.)

• PGDip Māori and Pacific Nations Education, Victoria University (Wellington, New Zealand)

• B.A. History, Haverford College (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

My commitment to a thriving and active academic career studying and teaching about mission-driven work was born in the remote hills and congested cities of East Africa. At the helm of a grassroots NGO, I oversaw the development of Tanzania’s first rural community education resource center between 1997 and 2004. In-so-doing, I worked diligently to balance deep local collaboration, innovative social entrepreneurship, and a sustainable, humane approach to workforce management. These rich experiences continue to motivate my work. I extend my scholarly research and classroom teaching on these topics by engaging regularly with NGOs, foundations, and community groups to ensure that these insights are translated back into practice.