My work brings together research, learning design, civic imagination, and cross-cultural dialogue to help organizations and communities imagine and build more connected futures. The projects featured here reflect recent and long-term research collaborations, place-based civic initiatives, and practice-oriented work at the intersection of culture, education, and participation.
Civic Imagination / Civic Paths
A long-running research and practice initiative exploring how storytelling, popular culture, and collective imagination shape civic participation and social change. As Co-Principal Investigator and Director of Research and Programs, I have helped design multi-method research frameworks, lead interdisciplinary teams, and translate findings into toolkits, workshops, and public-facing resources used by educators, civic organizations, and cultural institutions. The work has been supported by major philanthropic funders and developed in collaboration with academic, nonprofit, and media partners.
Transformative Media Pedagogies/ Future of Learning
A research-driven exploration of how media, storytelling, and participatory practices can transform learning environments. As co-editor and contributor, I helped shape frameworks that connect media literacy, civic engagement, and equity-centered pedagogy across formal and informal learning contexts. The work bridges academic research with educator-facing practices, offering models for designing learning experiences that are participatory, culturally responsive, and future-oriented.
BG2050: What Could Bowling Green Be?
A place-based civic futures initiative that brings together residents, educators, local leaders, and institutions to imagine long-term possibilities for their region. I co-led the visioning and design process facilitated community gatherings, and helped build the research and engagement framework that connects storytelling, local knowledge, and future-oriented planning. The project demonstrates how civic imagination can support inclusive dialogue, trust-building, and strategic thinking at the community level.
The Cross-Cultural Parenting Playbook
A forthcoming book grounded in interviews, research, and lived experience, exploring how families raise children across cultures, languages, and national contexts. Drawing on my background as a scholar of media, learning, and culture—and as the parent of a multilingual, cross-cultural child—the book examines how everyday practices, media, and storytelling help children navigate belonging across borders. The project connects personal narrative with broader questions about identity, education, and the future of learning in a globalized world.
The Cross-Cultural Parenting Playbook