About me
My Professional Journey and Vision
PhD Student, Saint Louis University, School of Social Work
Adjunct Faculty, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW), As You Are Therapy
I’m a social work PhD student, adjunct professor, and clinician — which really just means I juggle a lot of hats and run mostly on coffee. While most folks my age are focusing on preparing for retirement or planning extended trips or vactions, I decide to pack up and move to St. Louis to start a whole new chapter in this whirlwind ride called life. Call it a deep-seated passion or that I am just a slow learner and apparently love doing things the hard way— whatever the motivation, here I am, chasing the next adventure.
Across my work — research, teaching, therapy — the mission stays the same: empowering others. Whether guiding students as they build the foundation for meaningful careers or helping individuals recognize and navigate the personal and systemic roadblocks life throws at them, my focus is on equipping people with practical tools to move forward — or at least climb over obstacles without too many bruises. I believe deeply in trauma-informed care and honoring lived experiences to tackle real-world issues, not just talk (or gripe) about them. My research is rooted in ensuring equity, inclusion, and access aren’t just buzzwords, but working realities in policy and practice.
Allow me be clear: I’m proud to stand up for policies and practices that have not only changed my life but shaped how I see the world — through a lens of understanding, humility, and strong self-determination. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) may have been demonized by a loud minority of the ill-informed or willfully ignorant, but for me, it remains a cornerstone of how I live and work. I believe in DEI because I believe in people. We all have a role in leaving the world better than we found it, and I intend to keep doing my part — through research, teaching, presenting at conferences, securing funding for equity-driven programs, and simply showing up day after day for the students and clients who count on me.
Ultimately, it’s about all of us — creating and sharing spaces where learning, growth, and real change can happen, not just for some, but for everyone.