Education:
State University of New York at Buffalo, BA

University of California, San Diego, MA

University of California, San Diego, PhD

I earned a double BA in English and Women’s Studies and then a PhD in Literature.

I mostly teach Spanish III, IV, and V, including a seminar called Black & Indigenous Identities in Latin America that considers identity from the perspective of Afrodescendent and indigenous people through the ages, beginning with the creation story of the Maya people. Students learn how Afro-Latine identity has been shaped by the legacy of enslavement and abolition and study Afrodescendent leaders and artists working in multiple genres. 

I started teaching as an undergrad, co-teaching an Intro to Women’s Studies course. I taught literature and language throughout grad school, then became a professor—until I realized teenagers were my favorite students. I now love introducing new ideas and perspectives through Spanish at Prep.

Avoiding burnout and centering care are vital to me. Learning requires kindness as well as smarts and grit. I try to nurture the whole person in my classroom and department work—heart and head alike.

CPS students are proudly nerdy and goofy. I’ve found my people!

I love the Faculty Variety Show and Student Talent Show. Last year, three of us teachers sang “Closer to Fine” with the crowd joining in. Pure joy!

My favorite animal is the axolotl—which is also the title of one of my favorite short stories (by Julio Cortázar).

Talking to plants and animals.