She has also been an instructor in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, working with preservice teachers on the topic of sustainability. Her research interests are at the intersections of science and society, and how federal policies are enacted locally. Specifically, she focuses on nuclear energy and waste policies and how they affect small communities in America’s “nuclear corridor” in southeastern New Mexico. By examining how science and technology policies collide with local expectations and understandings of environment and economy, Dr. Richter explores the different scales of nuclear technologies and policies.