I am an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Latin American & Caribbean Studies at Denison University. My research examines how morality and authority take shape across domains, including health policy, science and religion, research ethics, and a new research stream on kindness.
Recent & Upcoming
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New piece: "The Best Time to Organize Your Research? Now" Inside Higher Ed
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Upcoming workshop: Project Management for Researchers: The What and Why, October 22, 2025
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New essay: “Astrology’s appeal in uncertain times” The Conversation
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Recent podcast: The Academic Life — conversation with Christina Gessler about research project management.
Research
My scholarship spans political, medical, development, and cultural sociology. Current projects include public perspectives on science and religion, research ethics, and the social dimensions of kindness—alongside ongoing work on globalization and health policy.
Books
Banking on Health: The World Bank and Health Sector Reform in Latin America (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017; paperback 2019)
Project Management for Researchers: A Practical, Stress-Free Guide to Getting Organized (University of Michigan Press, 2024) — discount code, worksheets, and resources available on the book page
Speaking & Workshops
I give talks and lead workshops on mixed methods, research project management, and morality and public life (including science and religion). Formats range from presentations to interactive half-day and full-day sessions. Recent invitations include universities and centers in the U.S. and internationally, as well as teaching intensive, short mixed methods courses through the ICPSR Summer Program.
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Teaching
At Denison, I teach courses on international development, public perspectives on science and religion, and survey research methods. All of my courses include a hands-on research component—ranging from focus groups to artifact analysis—because I believe that the best way to learn social science is by doing social science.
Bio & Contact
I am a sociologist whose work investigates how people make sense of morality and authority in contemporary society. My publications appear in venues including American Sociological Review, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, and Science, Technology, & Human Values. I also write and speak for broader audiences on research ethics, science and religion, and project management for scholars.​