I am a linguist, word nerd, data wrangler, and conversation designer.
As I used to tell my students, I'm primarily interested in words, word bits, and word meanings, whether we're learning them or using them in a social context. In my academic research, I use quantitative and qualitative methods to gain insight into the makeup and entries of our mental dictionary, as well as how we learn and process morphemes and their associated meanings. I'm particularly interested in Semitic morphology and how social factors like language contact, language dominance, and bilingualism influence morphosyntactic borrowing and learning.
In the real world, I apply my research expertise and interests in language in many ways, like conducting structured interviews and developing surveys to find out how and why people are using products, analyzing and visualizing data, and ensuring you can have a more natural conversation with a contact center rep or chatbot. I love analyzing how language works (or doesn't work!) in social settings and seeing what makes people tick—and in turn, use those findings to improve the products I work on.
The textbook that I've been working on with my colleagues has been published! It's available in physical and digital formats from Cambridge University Press.
In September of 2025, I gave a science talk at Denver's Secular Hub about language ideologies around the NHL. It's aimed at general audiences, and you can even still participate in the audience participation! Check out the recording here.
In the real world, I apply my research expertise and interests in language in many ways, like conducting structured interviews and developing surveys to find out how and why people are using products, analyzing and visualizing data, and ensuring you can have a more natural conversation with a contact center rep or chatbot. I love analyzing how language works (or doesn't work!) in social settings and seeing what makes people tick—and in turn, use those findings to improve the products I work on.
The textbook that I've been working on with my colleagues has been published! It's available in physical and digital formats from Cambridge University Press.
In September of 2025, I gave a science talk at Denver's Secular Hub about language ideologies around the NHL. It's aimed at general audiences, and you can even still participate in the audience participation! Check out the recording here.
RIP, Azure Window! In March 2017, this rock formation on the island of Gozo collapsed. (Photo taken during fieldwork, June 2014)