I am a Postdoctoral Teaching Scholar in Political Science at the University of Notre Dame specializing in political theory and international relations. My primary research examines theories of the state and sovereignty in the German-speaking world during the interwar period.  My dissertation recovers Hermann Heller's account of political unity in the modern state, placing it in critical dialogue with Carl Schmitt's constitutional theory. In doing so, it speaks to contemporary debates about the democratic self-defense and the rule of law within democratic theory. My broader research focuses on theories of war and peace in the history of European political thought. 

My research has been published in Political Research Quarterly and the Review of International Studies. It has also been supported by generous grants from the American Political Science Association, the Institute for Humane Studies, the Mercatus Center, and several institutes at the University of Notre Dame, including the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, the Institute for the Study of the Liberal Arts, and the Graduate School. 

I received a Ph.D. and an M.A in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. from Baylor University. During my time at Baylor, I studied Philosophy, Classics, and German through the University Scholars program.

Apart from my academic interests, I enjoy spending time outdoors and am an avid hiker.  I have long been interested in photography, especially wildlife and landscape photography. A sample of my photos can be viewed here. 

I am currently on the academic job market.