Engaging with great students and collaborating with terrific campus colleagues continues to be an exciting and transformative experience for me here at Long Beach City College. I started my career at LBCC in 2004 as a full-time Reading professor in the School of Language Arts. During my time at the college, I have been fortunate to have wonderful opportunities to support students and colleagues by serving as Reading Program Coordinator, Reading Department Chair, Instructional Specialist of the Writing and Reading Success Center, and Interim Dean of the School of Language Arts and Communication. Regardless of my changing roles at LBCC, I remain committed to literacy, teaching, learning, and student success.

As a former re-entry student, I have experienced, first hand, the life-changing power that a community college education brings to all those who seek something more for their lives, for their families, and for their communities. I am proud to be a graduate of and degree holder from the three systems of public higher education in California: California Community College (AA in Liberal Arts), University of California (BA in Studio Art), and California State University (MA in Education: Curriculum & Instruction). Moreover, I earned my Ph.D. in English: Composition & TESOL from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in August 2014.