I am from Rockford, IL and completed my undergraduate studies at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and History. My subfield is medical anthropology and my focus is on health care and health care systems. My current project is researching U.S. Vietnam War combat veterans' exposure to Agent Orange, their illness narratives, and their navigation through health care systems. I am also interested in health insurance, medical billing, and the administrative process of health care systems.

My focus is in medical anthropology. My current research is on U.S. Vietnam War-era combat veterans and their claims to have been exposed to and affected by Agent Orange during their active duty. I am analyzing their illness narratives and understanding not just how their illness affects them physically, but additionally mental, emotional, environmental, and social aspects within themselves, their peers, and family members.