I am a Professor of Social Work at California State University Northridge. I have a PhD in Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy (University of California, Irvine) and a Master's in Social Work with an emphasis in Community Organizing (University of Pittsburgh).
My areas of research interests are at the intersection of nonprofits, immigration, inclusion-exclusion, child welfare, urban context, and public policy, with a focus on understanding how (non)governmental entities contribute to the exclusion of marginalized groups in society. I employ diverse methodologies including surveys, interviews, quantitative content analysis, and auto-ethnography. As an educator, my philosophy is to create a learning environment that keeps equity, anti-oppression, and wellness in mind.
I also have a background in nonprofit management, youth empowerment and education, community organizing, program evaluation, and art-based programs. For five years, I worked as a nonprofit manager at the Urban League, a national African American civil rights organization, where I managed a mentoring program for African American students in Pittsburgh Public Schools that aimed to promote academic equity in the city. I am the founder of Yemaya Productions, a social enterprise that combines research, education, and art to promote social change. I am the host of The Voice podcast, a podcast that centers on urban and social work topics.
My areas of research interests are at the intersection of nonprofits, immigration, inclusion-exclusion, child welfare, urban context, and public policy, with a focus on understanding how (non)governmental entities contribute to the exclusion of marginalized groups in society. I employ diverse methodologies including surveys, interviews, quantitative content analysis, and auto-ethnography. As an educator, my philosophy is to create a learning environment that keeps equity, anti-oppression, and wellness in mind.
I also have a background in nonprofit management, youth empowerment and education, community organizing, program evaluation, and art-based programs. For five years, I worked as a nonprofit manager at the Urban League, a national African American civil rights organization, where I managed a mentoring program for African American students in Pittsburgh Public Schools that aimed to promote academic equity in the city. I am the founder of Yemaya Productions, a social enterprise that combines research, education, and art to promote social change. I am the host of The Voice podcast, a podcast that centers on urban and social work topics.
