I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My dissertation contributes to our understanding of how states overcome trust and commitment problems, focusing on reputation dynamics. My theoretical work relies on dynamic reputation models to examine the relationship between states’ reputations and their incentives to maintain them. I test empirical implications of these theories in both IPE and conflict settings, such as foreign direct investment and deterrence. In addition to my dissertation work, I am also interested in civil wars and nonviolent movements.