My research explores mobility—the movement of people, ideas, cultures, and resources across borders—and how these movements shape experiences of inequality, identity, and belonging. Drawing on sociology, Africana studies, gender studies, and global political economy, I examine topics including migration, tourism, diaspora communities, and global development, with a particular focus on Africa and its diaspora. Through interdisciplinary and community-engaged scholarship, I seek to produce research that is both academically rigorous and relevant to contemporary social issues.
My Ph.D. research, for example, examined the social, legal, and economic status of women sex workers in Malawi in the backdrop of tourism development. It focused on how they navigate criminalization, poverty, gender inequality, and the criminal justice system. Situated at the intersection of Africana studies, women and gender studies, and global political economy, my work explores how local realities are shaped by broader forces such as globalization, migration, tourism, development, and public health. By centering the voices and lived experiences of women sex workers and the advocates who support decriminalization, my research contributes to ongoing conversations about social justice, human rights, labor, tourism development, and legal reform in Malawi. Importantly, it also analyzes public discourse and public opinion about sex work, highlighting how societal attitudes influence policy, stigma, and everyday life.
This research built on my earlier master’s thesis, which examined the suitability of nation‑branding as an approach to tourism development in Malawi. That project was interdisciplinary, drawing on theories from business and the social sciences. I argued that Malawi can build a compelling national brand by drawing on existing narratives, agricultural products, and historical figures, but that any effective branding strategy must remain people‑centered—ensuring that ordinary Malawians are the primary beneficiaries and that the brand is grounded in local realities. The thesis also identified several potential directions that a “Brand Malawi” initiative could pursue to strengthen the country’s visibility and advance its tourism development goals.