Growing up, I saw myself as an educator. The learning process felt gratifying, but after each class session, I always found myself wanting more. I am privileged to be pursuing a PhD where I can satisfy my interest in educating the next generation of responsible citizens while also contributing original knowledge to the field through my research. Most people comfortably choose between academia and industry, but I want both. In 2015 I moved to St. Louis to pursue my bachelor's and master's from St. Louis University. I'm now working on my second master's and PhD at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. I began my college career in Biology on the Pre-Med track but ultimately found my home in Political Science and German Studies. One of my most formative experiences was studying abroad in Heidelberg, Germany after eight years of German instruction in high school and college. This experience immersed me in a new way of life and challenged me like I never expected. It also informed my research agenda, which focuses on government institutions and voting behavior in the U.S. and Germany. Research is not only what I do. It's who I am. I've worked in various Research Assistant positions over the past three years. As my final year of PhD coursework comes to a close, I am a co-author on three research projects, working with colleagues and professors alike. I have experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. My skillset includes direct (phone and email) and indirect (Sunshine Requests) data collection from state and local governments, compiling publicly available data, synthesis of voluminous academic literature and historical records, advanced proficiency in R Studio and Excel, and basic proficiency in Stata and SPSS.I am also an instructor. I have taught three courses on the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions so far. I've also worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for courses on American politics, international relations, urban politics, political movements, human rights, and public policy, where I primarily grade and communicate with students.As I turn my focus toward the dissertation, I'm excited to finally enter the job market after almost eight years of school and put my skills to work. As a first-generation college student, I have always been self-motivated and always commit myself fully to everything I do. I feel deep empathy for others and have always been recognized for my positive and kind attitude. I love to travel and thrive off of new and exciting experiences. Most importantly, I am a cat dad to Mirela and Jordan.