Her scholarly interests include Latin America, immigration, women and politics, and religion and international affairs. She has published articles in Social Science Quarterly, The Review of Faith & International Affairs, Latin American Perspectives, and Political Research Quarterly. She is married to Dennis Hoover, and is the mother of Isaac and Gabriella. And to her chagrin, although she was once a housecleaner, her home today reflects little of that experience. She enjoys teaching and conducting research on religion and immigration.