I am an Associate Professor at Michigan State University’s Department of Media & Information and Associate Director of the Quello Center for Media & Information Policy.

My research is in the areas of rural computing, science and technology studies (STS), computer supported cooperative work (CSCW), and rural studies. My research primarily revolves around the role of technology in rural economic and community development. Some current projects in this area focus on topics such as: community adaptation to automation in rural industries; the economic and community development implications of data centers, broadband, and other forms of digital infrastructure; and the growing role of the high-tech economy in rural parts of the United States. I received my PhD in 2020 from the University of Michigan School of Information, where I was advised by Silvia Lindtner and Tiffany Veinot.

At the Department of Media & Information, I teach classes on interaction design, technology and rural development, and the gateway course to our Information Science major.

My work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Spencer Foundation, and the Merit Network.

Recent news

Summer 2026

• I received a National Science Foundation grant through the Future of Computing Research (FutureCoRe) program. The project will use ethnographic and design methods to understand how rural communities respond to automation in manufacturing and agricultural industries. For more information about the grant, see: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award?AWD_ID=2552068. I will be recruiting a postdoctoral research associate and a PhD student to start on this project in 2027.
• I was granted tenure and am officially an Associate Professor of Media & Information as of July 1, 2026
• This summer I’ve been working a lot in the data center center space, convening the Michigan Data Center Planning & Development Working Group and giving talks all over the state to communities and organizations about the economic and community impacts of data centers. For more information, see: https://quello.msu.edu/emerging-digital-infrastructures/

Prospective students

I am open to advising prospective PhD students, especially those interested in the role of technology in the rural United States. If you are interested in ethnographic, community-based, and/or design research on technological advancement in rural economic development, civic/municipal settings, or social contexts, please contact me to set up a time to discuss your research interests. See the Information & Media PhD website for more information about our interdisciplinary program at MSU.

If you are an undergraduate student at MSU interested in working with me on any projects described above, feel free to contact me. Include your interests and degree/major.