I research inequalities of wealth and political influence in the United States. My goal is to help create a society where economic hardship does not restrict human potential, and where individuals can participate in the democratic process as equals.
I earned my doctorate in history from Columbia University, where I studied the political and economic changes that shaped democracy in the United States between the 1900s and 2000s. I continue to find history a powerful tool for identifying the causes of contemporary problems–and for imagining more just alternatives in the future.
My dissertation, nominated for Columbia’s Bancroft Award for excellence in research, studied philanthropy in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to attending Columbia, I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley with Highest Honors, Dean’s Honors, and Highest Distinction. My award winning thesis studied political contests over the meaning of corporate social responsibility in the 1970s.
Currently, I’m engaged in research on philanthropy. I’m examining philanthropy’s potential to encourage political participation, influences on donor behavior, the work of philanthropy professionals, and the history of private giving in Silicon Valley. You can learn more about my research projects here.
When I’m not thinking about money and power, I’m probably painting, playing board games, creating digital art, or learning how to code. Or I’m going where no one has gone before with my trusted sidekick.
You can contact me here.