I became a cultural sociologist because I’ve always been fascinated by the social and historical forces that shape people’s lives and through which people shape society and history.

This fascination developed as a child, accompanying my mother to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. I’d listen intently as strangers poured out stories of desire and desperation, creating a community of support. My curiosity about society deepened as I grew older, and I was increasingly drawn to history and archeology. Eventually, I’d pursue these passions with jobs as a research assistant for a local history museum and later for an archaeologist specializing in the Maya.

I was fortunate to attend Rhodes College, a small liberal arts institution in Memphis, where my engagement with society and culture flourished through coursework in anthropology, sociology, and religious studies. At this time, I also developed a commitment to social justice and became involved as an organizer for interfaith workers’ justice groups in Tennessee and Arkansas. A master’s from the University of Arkansas followed, and my preoccupations with history, culture, and social movements coalesced into a thesis on narratives in anti-war music across time.