Welcome

As I reach the culmination of my master's program in Library and Information Science at San José State University School of Information, this e-Portfolio represents the convergence of my diverse professional paths—from television producer to rural Instructional Library Technician to immersive media and information professional. Working in a small elementary school library while simultaneously serving as Virtual Reality Producer at SJSU iSchool has created a unique synergy throughout my graduate studies. This dual role has allowed me to immediately apply theoretical concepts to address real information literacy challenges in an underserved rural community, while also exploring how emerging technologies can preserve endangered cultural heritage, amplify marginalized voices, and raise social awareness through immersive digital experiences.

My journey through the iSchool has been shaped by a commitment to bridging traditional information stewardship with emerging technologies and innovative approaches. Leading cultural heritage preservation VR projects has demonstrated how information professionals can transcend geographical limitations to protect cultural heritage under threat. This practical work has been complemented by my research on cultural property protection, where I've explored how information-sharing technologies and community-based initiatives can safeguard heritage at risk from man-made and natural disasters. Meanwhile, my work developing comprehensive digital and information literacy curricula for elementary students has reinforced the importance of creating age-appropriate, scaffolded learning experiences. These parallel experiences have consistently reinforced each other—insights from creating information literacy instruction for young learners helped inform curatorial choices in virtual reality design, while classroom observations have enhanced understanding of intuitive information design for diverse audiences.

This portfolio illustrates my competencies across fundamental areas of library and information science through evidence ranging from VR environments to controlled vocabulary development. Throughout this program, I've been fortunate to work with faculty like Dr. Anthony Chow, Dr. Jolanda van Arnhem, and Alfredo Alcantar who encouraged innovation and curiosity while calling for academic rigor. I'm grateful to these mentors, as well as to my family, whose support made it possible to balance two jobs with academic pursuits. This collection represents not just what I've learned, but how I envision contributing to our field's future—creating immersive experiences that preserve endangered knowledge, designing inclusive information systems, protecting cultural heritage, and advancing educational opportunities through emerging technologies in service of both local communities and global cultural heritage.