I investigate intersections of politics, economic justice, and the environment, particularly in the Gulf South. I am a former business reporter, mayoral speechwriter, and college professor. I received my PhD in Communication from the University of California San Diego and am a visiting scholar at Tulane University, where I've taught courses on political and environmental communication, journalism, and the Mississippi River. My book explores the muddy histories of South Louisiana and the Mississippi River Delta region.  I am a freelance writer and consultant, currently working on a campaign with Invest in Louisiana and Environmental Defense Fund to limit methane emissions in Louisiana. I am writing a book for LSU Press about the cultural politics of sustainability and net-zero in a fossil fuel-captured state like Louisiana.

In addition to my doctorate, I hold master’s degrees in journalism from the University of California Berkeley and in creative writing from Eastern Michigan University. I received my undergraduate degree from Tulane University.