She obtained her Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate University. She teaches and does research in the areas of U.S.-Latin America relations such as cross-border challenges related to the U.S. led drug war, democratic consolidation, threats to security, as well as international political economy, focucing on expanding economic regional arrangements such as the Pacific Alliance and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. She teaches undergraduate courses in Model United Nations and Foundation of Global Politics, as well as undergraduate and graduate courses in International Relations, International Political Economy and Latin American Politics.