Hi! I look forward to meeting you either in the Integrated Learning Center or in one of my English classes.

I grew up in San Jose, where I learned about the transformative power of education and the stories that connect us. My parents, the first in their families to attend college, instilled in me the value of learning. I studied English and Spanish Literature at Stanford, falling in love with language as a beautiful site of resistance—its power to reclaim narratives, code-shift across borders, and shape identities both inherited and chosen. I also fell love with teaching and tutoring--a love that has transformed into a lifelong career that includes teaching for AmeriCorps, UC Santa Cruz, De Anza College, Cabrillo College, and for the California State Parks system.

I earned my master’s and Ph.D. in American Literature and Studies at UC Santa Cruz with a focus in teaching college composition, where I discovered my true calling: teaching. At UCSC, I coordinated a support program for students at risk of leaving the university, training peer mentors and tutors to ensure every voice had the tools to succeed. To me, language is more than just words—it’s a means of expression, a voice that cannot be silenced.

In 2001, I joined Cabrillo College as one of the first faculty members at the newly opened Watsonville Center Building A, a place I cherish for its vibrant community and commitment to equity. At Cabrillo, I’ve been a professor, mentor, and student advocate, serving on advisory committees, the Faculty Senate, Basic Needs advisory groups, accreditation, and veterans’ support programs—always with a focus on opening doors and keeping them open.

Outside the classroom, I’m a mother to two amazing daughters, a dog lover, and deeply passionate about Santa Cruz’s culture and nature. I volunteer as a docent at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and volunteer with Your Allied Rapid Response (YARR) in Santa Cruz County. I believe education changes lives, and writing is a key part of our collective future beyond oppressive structures.

In Fall 2026, I am teaching online C1001, (formerly known as English 2).