About Me
I'm a writer and historian drawn to enduring questions: What is a life well-lived? How do we create meaning amidst upheaval and build a more compassionate world? My work explores these questions through the lens of international history and engaged Buddhism. I'm interested in how ancient wisdom speaks to contemporary challenges, and how radical transformation can come from simple and intentional daily life.
I've published in foundational history texts like the Cambridge History of the Vietnam War and leading academic journals like the Journal of Vietnamese Studies. I did my PhD at Columbia University, where I researched how Vietnamese Buddhist communities responded to colonialism, war, and the challenges of building a new nation. In my spare time, I share insights with broader audiences by giving talks, educating organizations like Hachette Book Group, and appearing on media platforms like Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.
My Work
My work is driven by a desire to heal and to transform the way we see ourselves in relation to the world. I'm a lifelong Buddhist ordained in the Order of Interbeing in the Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism. I've served on the Board of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation for 9 years, am currently Co-Chair, and am committed to its mission of cultivating mindfulness and compassion to help people live happier and suffer less.
I write for spiritual seekers with intellectual curiosity, and for those who believe that understanding the past can illuminate the way forward. I write for anyone interested in how we can live not just well, but wisely, creating conditions for flourishing that extend beyond ourselves to our communities and world.
I'm developing my next book and am looking for a literary agent who specializes in serious nonfiction — especially narrative history, biography, and religion/spirituality. If you’re interested, or know someone who might be a good fit, please reach out!