Executive Director, Scholar, and Advocate

I am an educational leader, policy strategist, and researcher dedicated to advancing equity and justice in higher education. With over a decade of experience bridging the worlds of academic research, legislative advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, I work to amplify the voices of students and communities often marginalized in policy conversations.

Currently, I serve as the Executive Director of the University of California Graduate and Professional Council (UCGPC), where I lead the official advocacy voice for over 63,000 graduate and professional students across the ten-campus UC system. In this role, I have spearheaded major legislative campaigns, secured critical funding for student advocacy, and established permanent institutional partnerships with university leadership.

Research & Scholarship

As a Ph.D. Candidate in the Education, Society, and Culture program at the University of California, Riverside, my scholarly work examines the intersections of race, policy, and pedagogy. My dissertation, "Pedagogies of Ethnic Studies Teachers," explores the transformative practices of educators who navigate and resist systemic inequities in their classrooms.

My research is grounded in critical theory and community-engaged methods. I have presented peer-reviewed work on the experiences of Asian Pacific Islander students and disability in higher education, and I regularly present at major conferences, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Teaching & Public Pedagogy

My commitment to education extends beyond the boardroom and into the classroom. As an Associate Instructor at UC Riverside, I have designed and taught courses on "Education for a Diverse Society" and "Ethnic Studies in K-12 Education." I view teaching as a form of public pedagogy—a practice of translating complex ideas into accessible, transformative learning experiences that empower students to become agents of social change.

Awards & Recognition

My work has been recognized by leading institutions for its impact on educational equity and policy:

-  California Teacher Education Research and Improvement Network (CTERIN) Fellow (2021–2023)

-  Eugene Cota-Robles Diversity Fellow (2016–2020)

-  Ford Foundation Fellowship, Honorable Mention (2021)

-  Gates Notes (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) – Selected by the UCR Chancellor and School of Education Dean to represent graduate students in education alongside other equally recognized graduate students across the country.

-  Harry Singer Scholarship

-  Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, UC Riverside Graduate School of Education (2017)

Whether through legislative testimony in Sacramento, conducting rigorous research on educational inequality, or mentoring the next generation of student leaders, my career is driven by a singular mission: to build a more equitable, inclusive, and accessible education system for all.