about me

PERSONAL BIO:

I introduce myself by first acknowledging my familial lineage because they are a vital part of who I am today. I  am daughter of Flora Perez and Dale Jesus Loyola. Granddaughter to Roman Perez, Hortencia Torres Perez, Martha Fimbres, and Indalecio Loyola. 

I am a San Jose native, a first-generation college student, and a proud Chicana! I was born in Mt. View, CA but raised in East San Jose. San Jose is my home at heart. I currently reside in Gilroy, CA [bc gentrification!]. I am a caretaker, a teacher, and a mother of 2.

I'm also a proud mama of my precious girl "Nica Ollin", my Red-Earred Slider "Rafael", and my African-Ringneck Parrot "Chula". 

As an adolescent I grew up in poverty, surrounded by the social ills of the “hood”. I dropped out of high school at 15 and became a young mother at age 16. I say that, to say this – despite the hardships I have endured, it was education that saved my life. Education was a healing experience that offered me insight of my strengths and sacred purpose. I pay homage to the many that came before me to pave this path - my ancestors, teachers, and mentors. It is my hope that I can pay it forward in the heartwork I do in teaching. 

It was not long ago that I was in your shoes, learning to navigate institutions of higher learning. As a first-generation college student, I often times felt alone and scared - often doubting my own abilities and confidence. I had to work hard to discover my strengths and abilities and I'm glad that I did! It was these experiences that shaped who I am as a teacher and mentor. With that, I am here to support you with an open and empathetic understanding that this may be one of the most challenging experiences for you - but in the end, one of the most rewarding! You'll see! 

I began my educational journey at Evergreen Valley Community College in San Jose, CA. My educational background includes an Associate of Arts in Psychology [2007], Evergreen Valley College; Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Criminology (2010), San José State University; and a Master of Arts in Chicana/o Studies (2014), SJSU. My graduate work in Chicana/o Studies placed an emphasis on Education and Social Justice.  

As a teen mom with a limited education I began working in retail and moved my way to office administrative work. I come from very humble beginnings. I know what it is to be broke and broken! I know what it looks like to struggle, but I also know what progress and success look like. I worked my way through college as a full-time mom and employee, and part-time student. Ask me how long it took for me to attain my degrees! 

I worked for a legal non-profit for 18 years [all while pursuing my education] and began to pursue my true passion/purpose of teaching thereafter. I've been teaching now for 8 years. I love being in the classroom and I especially love learning with my students. I truly enjoy engaging in critical discussions that shape our everyday lives and empower us to the the best version of ourselves for our familias and communities.  

My experiences, both personal and educational, have led me here and I am honored to share this space with you. It is my hope that this course will lead you to a greater understanding of yourself and the world in which you live, as it did for me. It is important to not only gain knowledge, but more importantly, to utilize the tools you gain for both personal and career development. Let’s grow together!

My teaching philosophy [pedagogy] is grounded in a student-centered capacity which means YOUR VOICE is needed to create a communal learning space. I anticipate that you will make significant contributions to our class community which will ultimately make this a fulfilling  learning experience. I believe that everyone has something to bring to the table and that with the right mind-set and support we can all be successful. 

It is a great honor to be a part of your academic journey. It is my hope that during this quarter we will learn to collaborate, build our knowledge base, empower one another, and gain tools for both personal and academic development. I personally believe that true education should not just be based on how we grow academically but also grow on a personal level.

Our goal at the end of this course is to acquire knowledge and tools to better understand the society in which we live so that WE can challenge inequities and contribute to a more just society. 

COURSES: 

Chicana/o History, Chicana/o Culture,  Sociology of the Chicana/o Experience, Chicana/o's in the Arts,  Intro to Chicana/o & Latina/o Studies, Ethnic Film, Intro to Ethnic Studies,  Intro to Chicana/o Studies, Economic Progress of Latina/o's in the U.S., Race & Ethnicity in Public Spaces, Intro to Sociology, Social Problems, Social/Cultural Anthropology,  Service-Learning, and Career and Personal Development.