Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, I graduated from the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Bachelor of Science in Geography and a minor in Latin American Studies. During my sophomore year in college I studied in Santiago, Chile where multiple experiences furthered my passion for equitable education, social justice, and the environment. I love teaching Spanish because in learning a language we can begin to break down stereotypes by understanding what makes us similar, different, and deserving of the same opportunities.

 

In Chile, constant curiosity, three internships and friends from around the globe helped me to better understand who I was and what I stood for. Many of these experiences had a profound impact on how I view the world and my responsibility in it. As a participant in the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergrads, I assisted in hydrology research in the driest place in the world, the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. While the research and geography were fascinating I became even more interested in the life stories of Chilean and Bolivian miners at the mining camp where I stayed. An internship with a Chilean Environmental Organization (CODEFF- Comité Pro Defensa de la Flora y Fauna) as well as an internship at a home for children with cancer provided teaching experiences that stuck with me and would eventually push me into Education. Upon returning from Chile, volunteer work in my own community allowed me to see that there is much work to be done to ensure everyone has the same opportunities in life.

 

My earlier years in Reno consisted of a lot of snowboarding, gardening, hiking, exploring, and great friends thanks to an incredible family and hard-working parents. Reflecting on my childhood and comparing it to the stories of other people I met along the way help me understand privilege and fuel the need I feel in disrupting and exposing inequity. As the middle child, I’m sandwiched between my two inspiring sisters, my older sister Dawn, an assistant principal in Reno and my younger sister Nikki, a curly hair specialist, also in Reno.

Before moving to San Diego in 2015 to attend the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, I taught Spanish levels 1-4 in Memphis, TN where I fell in love with exposing students to a new language and new cultures. My passions include; all things related to Spanish-speaking, world-travel, eating (mainly plants), cooking, fighting for a more just world, and exploring the outdoors on foot, rollerblades or on bike. In June of 2016, I graduated with a Masters in Education from the High Tech High Graduate School of Education where I conducted research on the importance of using comprehensible literature to increase the confidence and acquisition of language learners.