I am a PhD candidate in Sociology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. My research interests lie at the intersections of digital sociology, criminology, and socio-legal studies.

My dissertation, "They Did The Monster Mash: Monster romance novels, desire, and platform governance," examines how digital corporate infrastructures, platform algorithms, and socio-legal frameworks function as contemporary mechanisms of digital policing over "deviant" media and non-normative intimacy. Using the popular subgenre of romance—monster romance—as a case study, I investigate how informal social control operates in digital spaces and how subcultures actively resist this algorithmic surveillance.

This work builds on my extensive background in researching criminalized subcultures and digital governance. My master’s thesis, "Perceptions of Sex Trafficking Legislation by Sex Workers," analyzed community responses among self-identified sex workers following the 2018 passage of SESTA/FOSTA. My findings revealed widespread opposition to the legislation, with participants highlighting heightened safety risks, increased online censorship, and the further marginalization of vulnerable populations under the guise of anti-trafficking efforts.

Research Interests

• Digital Media & Platform Governance: How digital platforms, algorithms, and content moderation policies mediate social behavior and enforce informal social control.
• Sex Work & Sexual Commerce: The socio-legal and economic impacts of state legislation, financial deplatforming, and governance on sexual labor.
• Critical Theory & Criminology: The intersection of popular culture, non-normative intimacies, and institutional regulation.

I am deeply committed to public scholarship and community-engaged research. I have served as the Graduate Student Representative to the faculty, led organizing efforts for the Stop The Raids Campaign, and contributed to local community organizing around sex work. My public writing has appeared in The Nevada Independent, where I analyze the real-world consequences of anti-trafficking initiatives.