I am an educator, social scientist, advocate, author, intellect, and podcaster dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and positive transformation among individuals and communities.
As an Assistant Professor of Social Work at California State University Northridge, my research goal is to enhance understanding of inclusion and exclusion enacted by (non)governmental entities. The populations I have studied include immigrant, ethnic, and religious groups and individuals with experiences of foster care, adoption, and youth homelessness. My research is interdisciplinary contributing to the field of nonprofits, immigration, citizenship, urban planning and policy, social work, and social movements. I am particularly interested in theory development and critical scholarship. I am trained in various qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research approaches. As an educator, my philosophy is to create a learning environment that keeps equity, anti-oppression, and wellness in mind. 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).
I also have over 10 years experience 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 collaborative project specializing in the development of art-based programs that promote social change.
I am also the host of the Voice Podcast, a podcast that combines research and storytelling to shed light on urban and social work topics. Listen to the Voice Podcast by clicking here.
As an Assistant Professor of Social Work at California State University Northridge, my research goal is to enhance understanding of inclusion and exclusion enacted by (non)governmental entities. The populations I have studied include immigrant, ethnic, and religious groups and individuals with experiences of foster care, adoption, and youth homelessness. My research is interdisciplinary contributing to the field of nonprofits, immigration, citizenship, urban planning and policy, social work, and social movements. I am particularly interested in theory development and critical scholarship. I am trained in various qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research approaches. As an educator, my philosophy is to create a learning environment that keeps equity, anti-oppression, and wellness in mind. 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).
I also have over 10 years experience 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 collaborative project specializing in the development of art-based programs that promote social change.
I am also the host of the Voice Podcast, a podcast that combines research and storytelling to shed light on urban and social work topics. Listen to the Voice Podcast by clicking here.
