Her primary research centers on eighteenth-century British imperial history; however, her position at the RCAH has permitted her to more fully pursue a passion for community outreach and service learning. Not only did she participate in the Teaching Democratic Thinking Seminar at Elon University, she also served as the co-chair of the 21st-Century Chautauqua, entitled "Create a Just Economy Now," co-sponsored by MSU and the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Additionally, she has taught service-learning courses that work with the local elementary schools to run an after-school program that seeks to develop self-esteem among pre-adolescent girls. Recently she received a grant from the Lansing Capital Region Community Foundation to develop a model of this course and program.