My goal is to make an impact on my global community, by making important contributions to scholarship, engaging my students and community, and inspiring others to strive for a purpose driven life. I am a recent PhD of the University of Missouri Department of Political Science. I specialize in Comparative Politics and International Relations. My research focuses on colonial/post-colonial state building and capacity. Other teaching and research interests include East and Southeast Asian politics, environmental policy and politics in developing countries, the management of riparian rights claims,  and water related conflicts.