I am an experienced researcher and teacher in the fields of sociology, social policy, and gender studies. I have a strong commitment to social justice in both my research and teaching, with a particular focus on gender and sexuality. My 2010 book, Migrating Genders: Westernisation, Migration, and Samoan Fa'afafine (Ashgate), focuses on the effects of westernisation and migration on the identities of Samoan fa'afāfine (transgender Samoans), and I have published on this topic in various contexts, academic and otherwise. Since joining the University of Waikato in 2012, I have taught and supervised across a range of areas on both the Hamilton and Tauranga campuses and online. I am a passionate and committed teacher, and relish the opportunity to expand students' understandings of how society functions, particularly with respect to inequalities and marginalised identities. My research has continued to focus on areas related to gender and sexuality.

Prior to my role at the University of Waikato, I held a range of positions, including as a Research Associate with Refugees As Survivors (an NGO that delivers mental health services to refugees in Aotearoa). From 2010-2012 I was a Research Fellow at the longitudinal study Growing Up in New Zealand, situated at The University of Auckland, responsible for developing data collection tools and protocols, and writing up analyses.