I am an Assistant Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University (Malibu, California) and an Affiliated Faculty member of the Keck Institute for Data Science. I hold a PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy and an MS in Social Data Analytics and Research, both from the University of Texas at Dallas (School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences).

My research lies within the field of international political economy, with a substantive focus on globalization, energy geopolitics, climate change, and democracy. Specifically, I examine how natural resource wealth, climate change, and global forces (e.g., social media, foreign aid, and trade) shape democratic institutions and economic development, with a regional focus on Africa south of the Sahara.

My work appears in peer-reviewed journals such as Energy Economics, Resources Policy, Social Indicators Research, Scientific Data, and the Journal of Government and Economics. I am also an editorial board member for Nature Scientific Data, where I oversee submissions and the peer-review process for papers focused on natural resources, green growth, geopolitics, and democracy.

I have been interviewed by Voice of America, Joy News TV, Power 98 FM (South Africa), and the Say More on That podcast. My work has also been featured in news and policy pieces in outlets such as The New York Times Upfront (forthcoming), The Conversation, Voice of America, and MyJoyOnline.

Interview with Voice of America

Interview with Joy news