I am social scientist, educator, and professor of social work. 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 personal and professional mission is to contribute to positive change through research and education. My areas of research expertise is at the nexus of inclusion, exclusion, nonprofits, immigration, and foster care. Ultimately, I aim to better understand how (non)governmental entities contribute to the inclusion and exclusion of marginalized groups in society, employing 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 presently teach macro-level social work courses such as research and social welfare policy at California State University Northridge.
I also have a background in nonprofit management, youth development, 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 personal and professional mission is to contribute to positive change through research and education. My areas of research expertise is at the nexus of inclusion, exclusion, nonprofits, immigration, and foster care. Ultimately, I aim to better understand how (non)governmental entities contribute to the inclusion and exclusion of marginalized groups in society, employing 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 presently teach macro-level social work courses such as research and social welfare policy at California State University Northridge.
I also have a background in nonprofit management, youth development, 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.