I’m a researcher and evaluation professional with more than 15 years of experience across K–12 education, higher education, nonprofits, and policy organizations
Growing up in East Los Angeles and being the first in my family to attend college gave me an early appreciation for the opportunities education can create, as well as the barriers that many students and communities face. That experience continues to be one of the reasons this work matters to me.
My experience allows me to approach the issues I care about from many different perspectives, from working directly with students and families around college access and student success to studying higher education policy, conducting quantitative research, and helping organizations evaluate their impact. Across these areas, I’m especially interested in understanding where opportunities and outcomes differ, what we can learn from those differences, and how research and data can help us do better.
My work includes studying college access, financial aid, educational policy, and student outcomes, as well as helping organizations understand and measure the impact of their programs. Some of the most rewarding parts of this work involve taking something complicated and making it useful, whether that means uncovering a pattern in the data, helping a team think through how to measure its impact, or finding a clearer way to communicate what the research is telling us.
At its core, I believe research and evaluation should be useful to the people and communities they are intended to serve. The work I find most meaningful brings together good questions, thoughtful analysis, and the perspectives of the people closest to the issues. That continues to guide the kinds of organizations, projects, and people I hope to work with.
Selected Curriculum Vita
My career has taken me across many parts of education, from working directly with students and families to conducting academic and policy research, teaching graduate students, and leading organizational evaluation and impact work. That range of experiences shapes how I approach my work today and helps me understand research and data from multiple perspectives.
Education
Ph.D., Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis
University of Missouri
M.Ed., Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis
University of Missouri
B.A., Psychology & Social Behavior
University of California, Irvine
Professional Experience
Director of Measurement & Impact | Mindful Life Project
2023–2026
Led measurement and evaluation for mindfulness-based social-emotional learning programs reaching 50 schools across California. Developed approaches to measuring program impact, supported grant reporting and strategy, and helped staff and partners use evaluation findings to understand and strengthen their work.
Research & Data Analyst | The Education Trust–West
2017–2022
Conducted quantitative research and developed data tools and analyses focused on educational equity from Pre-K through college. Partnered with school districts and education leaders to examine disparities in student opportunities and outcomes and supported educators in using data to address equity within their systems.
Higher Education Research | University of Missouri
2009–2016
Conducted quantitative research on higher education finance, financial aid, enrollment, and student outcomes. Worked with large datasets, contributed to peer-reviewed research, and supported applied research projects for Missouri state education agencies.
Student Affairs & Community-Based Education
College Access & Student Success | UC Irvine, University of Missouri & University of Kansas
2003–2009
Worked directly with students, families, schools, and communities through GEAR UP, Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, and university student-success programs. My work included college advising and mentoring, family engagement, academic programming, community building, and partnerships with educators and school leaders, with a particular focus on students from historically underserved communities.
Teaching Experience
University of San Francisco & University of Missouri
My teaching experience includes courses in educational research methods, applied statistics, higher education, cultural competence, and student success. Whether teaching Applied Educational Statistics and Research Methods at the University of San Francisco or courses in higher education and student success at the University of Missouri, my approach has been grounded in connecting research and academic concepts to practice. I value the knowledge and experiences students bring to the classroom and aim to help them ask meaningful questions, critically evaluate evidence, build confidence using research and data, and apply what they learn to challenges facing communities and educational institutions.