2013 Ph.D., Anthropology - University of Pittsburgh
2013 MPH, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences - University of Pittsburgh
2005 MA, Applied Anthropology - Oregon State University
2000 BS, Early Childhood Education - Miami University

September 2014 to Present: Academic Advisor, University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash

• Enhanced student success by diligently guiding them toward meeting educational objectives and navigating degree requirements effectively. Provided personalized assistance with course registration to facilitate smoother academic journeys. Skillfully addressed student inquiries about academic appeals, probationary measures, and diverse curriculum-related challenges. Collaborated as a proactive member of the pioneering CPAS (back on track) advising team, dedicated to supporting at-risk student cohorts. Contributed to establishing and guiding the international student organization, fostering cross-cultural engagement and support within the academic community.

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2020-2021: Adjunct Professor - Anthropology, Department of History, Philosophy, and Political Science, University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash

• Instructed Medical Anthropology, a field at the intersection of anthropology and healthcare. With over a decade of experience in academia and fieldwork, my background brought a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical insights to traditional lectures with interactive discussions and real-world case studies. Students were challenged to think critically about health issues from a cultural perspective, encouraging them to explore climate impacts on human health, traditional healing practices, medical pluralism, and the social determinants of health.

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2007 - 2013: Ph.D. / MPH Graduate Student, ​Department of Anthropology and Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

• Over six years, my academic endeavors, research pursuits, and fieldwork dedicated to climate change, Kiribati, migration, and health culminated in the publication of two significant works: Migration, Transnationality, and Climate Change in the Republic of Kiribati and Public Health and Climate Change in the Republic of Kiribati.

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Summer 2013 & 2012:  Anthropology Instructor, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh

• Delivered comprehensive instruction in two undergraduate courses that explored beliefs and practices across diverse populations. Through analyzing marriage, family structures, warfare, political dynamics, economic systems, and ritualistic traditions, students gained insight into the multifaceted aspects of humanity, fostering a deeper understanding of what it entails to be human.

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August 2008 - December 2009 & January 2011 - August 2012: Academic Advisor, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh

• Provided academic guidance to a department comprising more than 400 students. Oversaw maintenance of academic progress records and mentored an undergraduate leadership team. Advised the departmental undergraduate club and honors society. Administered class registration, facilitated departmental orientation, and liaised between the department and the School of Arts & Sciences.

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2010: Fulbright Graduate Student Researcher & Tutorial Instructor (TA), Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Waikato (NZ)

• I was deeply involved in conducting ethnographic research on the evolution of transnational identity within migrant Kiribati communities. This included designing, implementing, and analyzing the research process. Furthermore, I supported the instruction of two undergraduate courses and disseminated my research findings through presentations held at multiple universities across New Zealand.

Fall 2007 – Spring 2008:  Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh

• Supported in instructing and assessing two undergraduate introductory courses that delved into diverse topics such as marriage patterns, family structures, warfare, political dynamics, economic systems, and rituals, fostering a comprehensive comprehension of the human experience.

Spring – Fall 2006: Cultural Programming and Marketing Coordinator, Student Activities, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

• Guided the University's student cultural programming board on effective student engagement strategies, event coordination, and program assessment. Oversaw the management of an annual budget totaling $35,000, allocated towards crafting on-campus marketing initiatives and materials for the student activities office while ensuring the upkeep of the office's website.

Fall 2004 – Spring 2005: International Students of OSU Program Coordinator, Student Involvement, Oregon State University

• Administered policies and protocols governing on-campus international student organizations, offering resources and training to student leaders and faculty advisors. Spearheaded the organization's website's development and upkeep, designing and executing continuous social activities tailored for international students. Contributed to creating fifteen campus-wide multicultural nights annually while mentoring twelve multicultural student groups.

Fall 2004 - Spring 2005: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology, Oregon State University

• Supported in grading assignments and exams for 200 undergraduate students across two semester-long anthropological courses, Comparative Cultures, and Cultures in Conflict, and contributed personal research insights to pertinent discussions within the courses.

Fall 2003 – Spring 2004: Peace Corps Representative, Career Services, Oregon State University

• Managed the programs and services offered by the Oregon State University Peace Corps Office, overseeing the screening process for candidates to assess their suitability, competitiveness, and professional qualifications/skills for service. Orchestrated over fifty outreach activities annually, collaborating with over fifteen academic departments and twenty student organizations. Fostered relationships with the general public, community groups, and media to enhance recruitment efforts. Produced written reports detailing campaign plans, activities, and outcomes.

Fall 2002 – Summer 2003: AmeriCorps Service Learning Coordinator, Academic Affairs, Central College

• Offered leadership in fostering both academic and co-curricular student development through service-learning initiatives. Managed the annual placement of 300 first-year students in a service project as a component of the First-Year Experience program. Facilitated connections between faculty and service sites to align course objectives, activities, and lectures with community needs. Provided support to faculty members integrating service-learning into their curriculum. Served as a liaison between students and community organizations. Completed a comprehensive end-of-year program summary for AmeriCorps, Central College, and partner organizations. Organized and supervised three campus-wide service trips during fall, winter, and spring breaks.

Fall 2000 – Fall 2002: Peace Corps Volunteer, Tamana Island, Republic of Kiribati

• I partnered with local educators and community stakeholders to enrich educational initiatives at Margaret Field Primary School. This involved collaborating with teachers to devise and deploy impactful teaching methodologies. I actively facilitated English language sessions and provided mentorship to students, fostering the cultivation of critical thinking abilities, creativity, and self-assurance. Additionally, I spearheaded the establishment of a youth running and table tennis club, promoting healthy lifestyles among the youth demographic. Throughout my tenure, I prioritized learning about, embracing, and honoring cultural customs, traditions, and values. I championed cross-cultural understanding and appreciation through various means, including cultural exchange activities, language acquisition programs, and communal festivities. As a cultural ambassador, I shared my experiences, perspectives, and insights with the local community, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation.

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology:

• This course explored various aspects of human societies, including marriage patterns, social organization, warfare, political behavior, economic systems, rituals, and more. By comparing these patterns with established social facts and norms, students gained insight into humanity's fundamental essence.

Cultures of the Pacific:

• Expanding upon foundational anthropological concepts introduced in the introductory course, this class delved into the diverse peoples and cultures of Oceania. By studying non-Western perspectives, students gained a deeper understanding of cultural norms and practices, enriching their appreciation of global diversity.

Introduction to Medical Anthropology:

• This introductory course provided an overview of the expansive subfield of medical anthropology. Topics included ethnomedicine, disease ecology, epidemiology, demography, population growth, development, and health and healing political economy. By examining both Western and non-Western contexts, students explored the intricate intersections of culture and health.

Human Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspectives:

• This course examined gender and sexuality from a cultural perspective. It explored the historical, ecological, religious, economic, and social dimensions of human sexuality. By studying indigenous peoples in diverse cultural regions, students gained insights into the complexity and variability of sexual norms and practices worldwide.

2024 - Peace Corps Community for Refugees: Climate Displaced Persons Act. January 28, 2024.

2021 - Citizens Climate Lobby: DE&I Workshop: The climate crisis in migrating refugees and asylum seekers. November 28.

2020 - Voices from the last generation, Ocean Conservancy Washington DC, USA: March 5.
2018 - What consumes you? TEDx, Xavier University Cincinnati, OH, USA: November 1.
2018 - The Human Faces of Climate Change Citizens Climate Lobby, Perrysville, OH, USA: October 6.
2017 - Film and Climate Activism University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, USA: March 13.
2015 - The Human Faces of Climate Change, Confronting the Fierce Urgency of Now: Acting Locally and Globally for Climate Justice Keynote Address Central College, Pella, IA, USA: April 25.
2013 - Migration, Transnationality, and Climate Change in the Republic of Kiribati, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA: November 4.
2012 - Transnational Families – Stories of Migration from Kiribati: A Pacific Context for Evaluating the Human Cost of Climate Change, Asia Over Lunch Series, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: February 2.
2010 - A new life in New Zealand a Story of Transnational Migration, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand: September 1.
2010 - When There Was No Money, The Kiribati Diaspora and Climate Change, Pacific Post Graduate Talanoa Series- Building Research Capability in the Social Sciences Network, Hamilton, New Zealand: September 20.
2008 - First Experiences, Reflections of an Applied Medical Anthropologist working in a Pacific Island Nation, Asia Over Lunch Series, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: February 7.
2007 - Sinking Islands, Paradise Lost? University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: January 25.
2005 - Kiribati Youth, Perceptions of HIV/AIDS and Related Risk Behaviors, SfAA National Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA: April 7.
2004 - Kiribati Youth & HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS Expanded Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, Suva, Fiji: September 21.
2004 - Kiribati Youth & HIV/AIDS, Kiribati National AIDS Committee, Tarawa, Kiribati: September 15.

• English       spoken/read/written - fluent

• Gilbertese   spoken - proficiency, read/written - moderate proficiency

• Spanish       spoken - beginner