My research explores how language reflects and constructs identity, belonging, and power.
Working primarily through ethnographic and sociolinguistic methods, I study how language ideology and communicative practice shape both cultural expression and educational experience. Drawing from linguistic and cultural anthropology, my work engages questions of how people use language to negotiate history, place, and self—particularly in contexts where local identity and global discourse meet. I’m especially interested in how linguistic awareness, narrative, and pedagogy intersect to challenge social hierarchies and expand access to voice.
Areas of Focus
Sociolinguistics and language ideology · Ethnography of communication and cultural identity · Language attitudes and representation · Cajun and Acadian language and identity · Linguicism, equity, and power in education · Metalinguistic awareness and reflexivity in language learning · Narrative, discourse, and lived experience
Current Projects
La Poussière: Rhythms of Identity, Class, and Cultural Belonging in a Cajun Dance Hall — Developing a journal article based on an ethnographic study of Cajun identity, examining class-based sociability, multimodal communication, and intergenerational continuity.
Managing Complexity in ESL Classrooms: Rethinking Bloom’s Taxonomy and Higher-Order Thinking — Investigating the relationship between cognitive frameworks and communicative language teaching in multilingual learning environments.
Teaching English Across Contexts: A Practicum-Based Study of Multilingual Learner Support in K–12, Adult, and University Settings — Examining teacher adaptability and learner engagement across institutional contexts.
Mais gardez donc: A Media-Discourse Analysis of Cajunness in Pop Culture — Co-authoring a media-discourse analysis of portrayals of Cajun identity in contemporary media, with attention to representation and cultural ideology.
Linguicism, Language Attitudes, and Language Inequality — Forthcoming (2026, contracted); co-authoring a chapter on linguicism for a sociolinguistics textbook.