Her research focuses on the social psychological dimensions of poverty and economic (in)justice, particularly discrimination against low-income women and the beliefs that predict support for a wide range of welfare and anti-poverty policies. Her work is guided by an overarching interest in the psychological processes and structural forces that contribute to the political mobilization of low and middle-income women on behalf of economic justice. She is the incoming director of the Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community at UC – Santa Cruz, a progressive research institute dedicated to tackling issues of diversity, equity, and social justice and the building of collaborative university-community partnerships.