I earned a BA in both psychology and religion from the University of Miami, an MSEd in international educational development from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD in comparative and international development education from the University of Minnesota. My publications have appeared in the International Journal of Educational Development, International Studies in Sociology of Education, Material Religion, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Minnesota Star Tribune, The Minnesota Reformer, MinnPost, Acton Institute, American Institute for Yemeni Studies, and Heterodox Academy. I’ve amassed over 100 publication entries that covered a wide range of topics about religion, immigration, learning, literacy, development, education, and Yemen. I’m also a contributing author for Psychology Today. I spearheaded a series on zero-generation college-going students to describe a new population in higher education who build their foundational literacy skills from zero. While pursuing my PhD at the University of Minnesota, I began publishing with The Minnesota Star Tribune. When a controversy about freedom of speech transpired at Hamline University, I published an editorial titled “I fled for education, not indoctrination.” It was listed as one of the most-read editorials in the entire year of 2023 at The Minnesota Star Tribune.