Prior to moving to Chambana, Illinois to join the University of Illinois, I lived in Athens, Georgia; Seattle, Washington; Bloomington, Indiana; Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Zwedru, Liberia; Zhelezinka, Kazakhstan; and Barre & Middlebury, Vermont. Non-USA travel was primarily sponsored by the Peace Corps and the Fulbright program.

Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, I hold an undergraduate degree in Russian from Middlebury College and received a dual master's degree from Indiana University, Bloomington in Public Affairs (MPA) and Central Eurasian Studies (MA). I have a master's degree and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Washington.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, reading fiction, cross-country skiing, hiking, and singing.

The best way to contact me is via email: nww3 [at] illinois [dot] edu