Like many young people, when I graduated from high school I was confused about my place in the world. I wasn’t sure if college was for me, and took a few years off school in order to figure things out. It wasn’t until I took a few local community college math classes that I began to see the value of higher education and was able to form a plan for my future. From my local community college, I was able to transfer to UCLA and received a BS and MA in pure mathematics.

I believe in the community college system for many reasons, not least of which is the fact that it gives people a second chance. It allowed me to succeed in my life, regardless of my high school performance.  It wiped the slate clean. Because of this, I decided to dedicate my life to teaching mathematics at the community college level. 

Teaching and mathematics are two of my greatest passions, and I try to bring that excitement to the classroom every day. The greatest part about teaching is when I am able to make a difference in a student’s life, from showing a student with math anxiety that they have what it takes to pass Algebra, to inspiring a Calculus student to pursue a math degree  There is no accomplishment too small when it comes to this profession. Showing students a positive learning environment where they feel comfortable and encouraged to ask a great deal of questions is what I strive for the most. Seeing these successes with my own eyes always make the college environment an interesting and exciting place to work.