I consider myself a scholar activist situated at the intersection of academia, advocacy, and policy. To me, scholar activism means producing cutting-edge research that advances the field of political science while also making an impact beyond the ivory tower.

I pursue this in two ways. First, I engage in community-based research, conducting mixed-methods studies with and for Black and marginalized communities. This work centers the issues that matter most to these communities (i.e., political representation, voting, and economic inequality) and prioritizes community driven solutions to the barriers they face. Second, I support advocacy and policy organizations through data and analysis, translating research findings into actionable insights for policymakers.

Scholar activism is also something I cultivate in the classroom. I bring students along in this work by creating opportunities for community engagement. Through service learning and applied projects, students don't just study politics and policy but they begin to see themselves as agents of change who can contribute to addressing it.

Altogether, I see scholar activism as a way to bridge theory and political action to positively impact the communities that inspire it.