My Story

My work and social justice impact has always been at the critical intersection of education and public health.

As an undergrad, I thought my studies in Medical Anthropology and Public Health would lead me into clinical work. However, I became fascinated by the non-biological determinants of health; the complex interaction of social, cultural, political, economic, and other realities that shape our access to and experiences with health and healing. The more I learned about and witnessed real public health work happening in the world, the power of education kept emerging as a critical tool for health promotion and harm reduction/prevention. I was brimming with inspiration, curiosity, and conviction.

Ultimately, I saw K-12 school systems as sites for the most potential impact, so my public health and social justice practice took me to the classroom. As a teacher and instructional leader, I worked with teams of educators, administrators, health experts, and other key stakeholders to lead the implementation of a variety of projects and programs aimed to improve student health and wellness, including social-emotional learning, comprehensive health education, culturally responsive/sustaining pedagogies, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and more. During this time, I received my Master of Education in Instructional Leadership at University of Washington to grow my skill set in managing institutional and instructional change.

After nearly a decade of impacting youth health and wellness from the classroom, I transitioned to the education and public health nonprofit worlds to engage in systems change at a broader scale and focus more holistically on program development and management. To further grow my skill set in addressing the health needs of youth, I received my Master of Public Health in Population and Family Health at Columbia University, with a focus on research, policy advocacy, and program planning for adolescent sexuality, sexual, and reproductive health and rights.

With this unique set of skills and experiences, I am able to effectively support organizations in developing knowledge, structures, and systems to promote sexual health and wellness at scale. As a lifelong learner, I am eager to apply what I know to new challenges and contexts. I look forward to working with you as we do our part to make this world a better place!