Biography

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I was always eager to learn more about my family’s journey to the United States, a story that connects the Indian Subcontinent, the Arabian Peninsula, and the North Atlantic coast of South America. With inspiration from my A.P. U.S. History teacher (with whom I am still in touch!), I pursued my interests as an undergraduate and graduate student at the University of Chicago, studying Anthropology, South Asian Languages and Civilizations, and more. Furthermore, my academic studies gave me the incredible opportunity to travel widely and live in Spain, Morocco, and Turkey. Living within walking distance to a Seljuk-era castle in Turkey and camping on La Sagra Mountain in Spain rank high on my list of fond memories!

While I enjoyed that life of intense research, I found my greatest joy to come from classroom teaching; this is the vibrant space in which ideas get tossed around, shaped, and transformed. After earning a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, I was a tenure-track professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, developing both survey courses on Mediterranean and Islamic history as well as specialized seminars on classical Arabic literature and enjoying Colorado’s approximately 300 days of sunshine per year. Most recently, I taught history to freshmen, juniors, and seniors at Bentley School in Lafayette, CA. I have fallen in love with teaching at independent schools and being a part of communities of inspiring and passionate students ready to engage with an ever-changing world.

As a transplant to California from one of the flattest states in the country, I love to explore the gorgeous terrain of the Bay Area with my husband and train-obsessed toddler and experiment in the kitchen to create dishes both savory and sweet!