About Me

I’ve discovered that the more I learn, the more I feel inspired — and compelled — to keep learning. The impact of higher education on a person’s life is immeasurable. Beyond expanding employment opportunities, it fosters the exchange of knowledge, sparks research and innovation, and broadens our understanding of diverse cultures and philosophies. As a first-generation college student, my journey was not without challenges. Yet I was fortunate to have a strong support system: my family, who encouraged me through the unknown, and the dedicated faculty and staff at Tarleton State University, who offered guidance and became my family away from home. It was at this small university in the heart of Texas that my passion for higher education truly took root.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve built a career dedicated to serving students and advancing institutional missions. My professional path began as a student employee in the Residence Life Division at Tarleton State University, where I worked in the housing office and served as a Resident Advisor. These early roles taught me the importance of community living and meeting students’ basic needs so they could focus on achieving academic success. After graduation, I applied my education at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in a dynamic energy and environment research center. There, I managed K–12 education and outreach programs, secured and administered grants, and led initiatives that supported schools across Texas.

In 2010, I joined the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where I built upon my research administration experience and expanded into university finance, budgeting, state appropriations, and policy development. Today, as the Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration at the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, I draw on this diverse background to steward resources wisely and support the college’s mission to serve students and advance knowledge. While the path connecting these roles wasn’t always linear or planned, each step deepened my understanding of higher education and strengthened my commitment to continuous learning.

That commitment led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at UTSA’s College of Education and Human Development. Through this program, I’ve gained new insights into student programming and assessment, equipping me to better advocate for and allocate resources to initiatives that help students thrive. As I look forward, I remain passionate about learning, leading, and contributing to an environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.