The U.S. High Plains is one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the world. It wasn't always that way and in the wake of fluctuating weather extremes, ground water depletion, and economic turmoil, farmers are facing more risks than ever. Across debates over how to make agriculture more sustainable there is a consensus that in order to develop practical climate solutions, we need to hear from the people expected to nurture natural resources while also feeding the world. This project aims to do just that. By talking to farmers about their experiences in the industry, the challenges they're facing, and what they would like to see in the future. This project aims to develop solutions that work for farmers and rural communities. 

My dissertation research looks at public participation in Colorado's 2021 congressional redistricting process. Using discourse analysis of public feedback, interviews with Colorado's independent commissioners and people who submitted feedback, and "ground truthing" Colorado's eight congressional districts, I aim to shed light on the possibilities and limitations of participatory redistricting for generating fair representation.

For my Master's research I studied rural property formalization processes in Southwest Colombia, to understand the role of participatory mapping in securing property rights and producing government knowledge about Colombia's territory and the people who inhabit it. Over a total of three months, I interviewed government officials, observed meetings with campesinos (small-holder farmers), and participated in mapping property lines and completing applications for formalization.