Research
My scholarship explores the way cultural discourses and institutions create, reproduce, and challenge racialized boundaries surrounding Latino/a/X immigrants. More specifically, I have focused on the institutional legitimacy surrounding privatized immigration detention, a monetized system of racial social control. I have also examined discourses associated with Latino/a/X immigrants that are perceived to be more neutral or even positive, arguing that many of these frames ultimately contribute to America's long standing racial hierarchy. Going forward, I am interested in understanding how actors within the private prison industry make sense of the work they do and the industry's contribution to society.
Education
Ph.D. North Carolina State University, 2016
M.A. Texas Tech University, 2007
B.A. Texas Tech University, 2005