I studied at the University of California, Davis where I majored in Global Disease Biology and minored in Luso-Brazilian Studies. I am a Mexican and Nicaraguan individual who was born in Mexico City but was raised in Los Angeles County. I grew up as a native Spanish speaker and decided to learn Portuguese in order to expand my understanding of languages and culture in Latin America. I have previously worked in health education from leading exercise and nutrition classes in underserved areas around Los Angeles and Sacramento to leading health-related workshops at a nonprofit anti-child labor support center in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Currently, I am interested in pursuing a career in faculty-led program coordination and design, international student advising, or education abroad advising at higher education institutions. Specifically, I am looking for a position where my passions and academic experiences intersect with the field of international education, such as health and music, for example. My interest in faculty-led programming stems from my experience in participating in such programs in Portugal, Mexico, and Nepal. I find that faculty-led programs are accessible to students from all backgrounds given their short-term nature and that a greater impact can be made on participants given their usual small cohort sizes. In participating in these programs abroad, I was exposed to different communities and cultures. I still keep in touch with many of the friends I have made abroad, almost daily. Working with diverse communities locally and abroad has solidified my interest in international advising, whether it be helping students study abroad to develop cultural humility or helping international students integrate into a U.S. institution.

I have experience working in all kinds of fields from being a cook and bartender in the hospitality industry, being a musical instrument repair technician, to being a research assistant in plant pathology and human development labs. Outside of academia, I enjoy attending concerts of all genres, exploring record stores, writing poetry, improving my skills in mixology, and volunteering at local rabbit shelters.