For the next three years I worked for a Study Abroad and Spanish Immersion company, again finding myself in a position connecting students interested in the Spanish language and Spanish-speaking cultures. It is inspiring to work with learners who aspire to learn languages through interacting with the world and all the people in it, and I enjoyed supporting young global citizens step out of their comfort zone, achieve dreams, and make life-lasting memories.

After working in various positions in the tech industry, including a tech start up incubator and SaaS company, I became more intrigued and fascinated by the role that technology plays in our daily interactions, communication, and all aspects of teaching and learning, especially for second languages. Technology quickly became a center point for my second language pedagogical theoretical foundation and approach to teaching.

I later earned an MA in Spanish from Saint Louis University (SLU), which included returning once again to Spain and completing a year of the program on the Madrid campus.  While at SLU I began the Spanish conversation group Tertulia and continued developing my digital literacy skills and digital competencies working in the Language Resource Center. 

As a segue into my doctoral studies at the University of California, Davis, I attended and volunteered at the 2019 Linguistic Institute, "Linguistics in the Digital Era", where I attended workshops, keynote presentations, networking events, and took classes. This adult summer camp for linguists was inspiring, thought-provoking, and fueled my passion to remain connected throughout the disciplines. 

During my graduate student journey, I actively participated in service and extra curricular activities. At UC Davis, I was awarded a Teaching Assistant Consultant (with the Center for Educational Effectiveness) and Leaders for the Future (with the Mike and Renee Institute for Innovation) fellowship. I also served as the Co-Director for the Cluster on Language Research, co-graduate student advisor for the Spanish Club at UC Davis, and student ambassador for the Linguistic Society of America. 

I have also volunteered leading various informal Spanish conversation groups and I constantly seek out ways to connect people who have a shared interest in the Spanish language and Spanish-speaking culture. I am previously held roles as Managing Editor of Spanish and Portuguese Review, and the Chair for the CALICO Graduate Student Special Interest Group. Volunteering in an editorial and professional organization capacity allows me to mentor and learn from my peers, as well as provide platforms and spaces for graduate students to share ideas, network, and continue developing their own skills. Evidence in my teaching effectiveness can be seen in my teaching evaluations and awards such as the Outstanding Teaching Award (2024, UC Davis) and Graduate Teaching Assistant Teaching Award (2018, Saint Louis University). 

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From an early age I began to see Spanish, and languages in general, not only as a way to connect with different communities and cultures, but also as a useful professional tool. The personal and professional impact of knowing another language continues to be necessary and relevant in my daily life, and for that I am forever grateful. 

Spanish is important to me. Students are important to me. And it is important to me that students are able to experience and find their own personal connection to the value of multilingual and multicultural competence, and to learn how these proficiencies can increase their personal and professional growth in an abundance of ways. Teaching Spanish as a second language 

Aside from teaching and learning, I am passionate about health and fitness, traveling, writing, laughing, tasting wine, and drinking hot black coffee. I love to run, play soccer, do yoga, whack tennis balls, take walks, and share nerdy language jokes.