Current Research

My research is informed by my knowledge of and love for Africa. I recognize that it can be problematic and simplistic to reduce a vast and varied continent to a single object of affection and attention. I acknowledge the continent’s complexity and have a deep appreciation for the unique and evolving identities of its peoples and the cultures that impact our shared world.

My research is also informed by the fact that my ancestors are primarily from England and Ireland and that my family settled in South Africa as white settlers. I am finding the courage to confront my legacy of British imperialism worldwide and to investigate how I can contribute to decolonization. Decolonization is simple yet deeply entangled and complex. It requires sitting with uncomfortable truths about how global histories of imperialism—such as British expansion in South Africa—continue to shape modern dynamics, opportunities, and privileges.

Lastly, my research is embedded in the expertise and experience in feminist and social movements, as well as in grassroots communities. Population education, a participatory teaching and organizing approach that starts from people's lived experiences to build critical consciousnessand collective action for social change, deeply informs my thinking and pedagogy.