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, and urban context, 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, and urban context, 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.
