About Me

Hello! I’m a medieval historian, digital humanist, and educator. My research focuses on questions of power and identity in late medieval Ireland. I use a variety of methodologies to explore how Gaelic Irish lords constructed individual and dynastic identities and established their legitimacy in a highly contested environment. In the bigger picture, my research looks at how people develop strategies of negotiation that transcend categories of difference. I am a research assistant professor in the IRIS Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where I collaborate with faculty, students, and community members on digital humanities research and pedagogy.

In my spare time, I enjoy:

Photo of me with two dogs, one in my backpack and the other in front of me, at a trailhead
Hiking with my pals
Photo of two quilted pouches, one a lilac and white makeup bag and the other a blue and teal medicine bag
Quilting and other crafty things
Four books on a coffee table: The Vapors, Himself, My Sister the Serial Killer, and Wild Things
Reading (for fun and for work!)
Muffins fresh out of the oven
Baking and cooking