About
Research interests:
I am a historical and political geographer, and my research focuses on the Philippines. I am broadly interested in the histories of American empire in the Philippines, the geopolitics of decolonization in Southeast Asia, and the urban geographies of work in Manila. My dissertation analyzed the changing politics of labor at the Port of Manila. The research narrated a history of the city's port area by focusing on three distinct historical contexts: early American colonial rule, the first two decades after Philippine independence, and the contemporary moment. Through narrating the experiences of Manila's truck drivers, dockworkers, and waterfront labor unions, the project tells larger stories of historical and political change. I am interested in both archival methods and ethnographic research.
Teaching interests:
I have taught introductory undergraduate courses on Southeast Asia, globalization, and world regional geography. In 2023-2024 I will teach courses on Southeast Asia and a seminar on uneven development and globalization. I am dedicated to using creative materials like documentary films, fiction, and archival materials alongside assigned course texts. My teaching strives to introduce students to foundational concepts and theories by grounding this material in the context of everyday life. I hope that students in my classrooms will gain a better understanding of seemingly distant worlds and reconceptualize the spaces and places they think they know intimately.
