I am a medical and psychological anthropologist whose research examines the interplay
between migration, mental health, and ethical self-formation. My interest lies in understanding
how experiences of movement and displacement shape individuals' conceptualizations of self, as
well as their mental and emotional health. My work primarily explores the tensions between
aspirations for a “better life” and experiences of malady—including stress, suicidality, and
psychosis—through the narratives of both the individual experiencer and biomedically-trained
care providers.
My dissertation research focuses on the lifeworlds of Ethiopian domestic workers
forcibly expelled from their countries of employment. In this work, I analyze how individual
women explain their reasons for working abroad and their subsequent shifts in mental and
emotional health. I further compare their narratives to the diagnostic reasoning from local
healthcare professionals to understand how psychiatry (global mental health) is locally applied.
This research employs person-centered, feminist, and phenomenological approaches, supporting
my broader commitment to a pluralist understanding of the relationship between self, culture,
and mental health.
In addition to my empirical research, I am committed to advancing anthropological
methodologies. I am particularly interested in integrating person-centered ethnography with
feminist phenomenological frameworks to deepen qualitative research. This methodological
fusion aims to produce a more egalitarian and nuanced ethnography, revealing how the distinct
experiences of individuals can illuminate new theories and concepts about our social worlds.