Los Angeles, California, United States
I am a tenured Career Counselor at Cypress College and the founder and overseer of the Cypress College Rising Scholars Program. What began as a small, grassroots, student‑led club has grown into a comprehensive program serving over 400 students. Rising Scholars exists to support and empower students who are system‑impacted, including those with lived experience of incarceration. At its core, the program centers empowerment, belonging, and access - working to remove structural barriers while affirming students’ strengths, leadership, and potential. In addition to my counseling and program leadership work, I am currently in my first year of the EdD program in Educational Leadership for Justice at California State University, Dominguez Hills. This program is intentionally designed to prepare critically conscious, equity‑focused leaders committed to transformative change. My work is grounded in a deep commitment to educational justice. I am motivated to disrupt historically oppressive structures within higher education and to actively build liberatory, inclusive spaces where equity is not aspirational, but practiced.
Coordinate and grow program for formerly-incarcerated, system-impacted, and addiction recovery students on Cypress College's campus Oversee a team of Professional Experts and Interns; delegate responsibilities and activities Implement guest speakers (with lived experience) events to inspire and educate the Cypress College campus community Collaborate with community partners, in order to conduct outreach and provide support to currently and formerly-incarcerated youth and adult community members
Tenured (April, 2024) Worked closely with committee, in order to implement the Career Planning Center's first-ever Careers & Social Justice Conference: recruited panelists, keynote, and guest speakers to speak on relevant topics
* Recipient of the Part-Time Faculty of the Year Award (Spring, 2019) * Co-founded FITE Club (From Incarceration To Empowerment); serving as Faculty Advisor to campus club for students who have been incarcerated; oversees guest speaker events and other on-campus activities; coordinates meetings and FITE presentations; provides emotional support and encouragement * Conducts individual career counseling sessions with diverse student population; guides students through the career development process, addressing personal issues which impede decision-making and career-planning; implements and interprets standardized assessments * Develops and facilitates semester-long Career Planning classes; class trajectory follows the career development cycle and draws upon assessments and self-reflective activities * Taught 3 intensive (summer school) Dual Enrollment Career Planning courses: course assisted students with gathering information about themselves and the world of work, so as to make informed decisions about possible career pathways * Classes consistently taught with a focus on active student engagement and diverse learning styles, resulting in frequent high evaluations and verbal accolades from students * Developed and facilitated "Lift Up: Working With Previously-Incarcerated Students": a Professional Development Event for faculty and students with the objective of setting the foundation for future services for these students on Cypress College campus (Fall, 2018) * Developed and facilitated 2 hour long StrengthsFinder workshop for Care program students; integrated a variety of engaging activities (i.e. a vision board of strengths), resulting in remarks such as: "This was, by far, the best workshop I've ever attended!" *Created life-sized board game on the topic of decision-making for Cypress College Career Planning Center's annual Majors 2 Careers event; game served to engage and educate students on decision-making processes
* Facilitate individual career counseling and career coaching sessions with a diversity of client populations * Sessions strive to engage clients in the self-discovery process, bringing attention to strengths, and assisting clients with articulating newly-discovered characteristics * Coach clients on job search skills (resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and networking); job search skills focus on promoting client's personal brand, as well as their ability to convey that brand through the employment application process and within the interview itself
* Contributing member of the "Justice-Involved Student Committee" and grant writing team for Chancellor's grant (for justice-involved students): GCC awarded Chancellor's grant for 2019 - 2021 * Coordinating program for students who've experienced incarceration and/or have loved ones who have experienced incarceration; providing supervision to student employees; implementing outreach, peer mentoring, faculty training activities * Part of team which implemented Center For Reentry Pathways program; program which included such elements as: Peer Mentoring program, faculty trainings, regular guest speaker events, transfer tours and outreach to surrounding organizations and correctional facilities * Developed program at Los Angeles Mission Shelter in DTLA to bring GCC classes and educational pathways to the shelter (for men who have experienced housing insecurity and incarceration). Teaching SD 145 in Fall, 2019 at LA Mission. * Working with colleague on organizing and presenting career panels (for GCC students): career panels are comprised of professionals from each of the Holland's Code interest themes (RIASEC) * Counsels students on such topics as: career and major exploration, job search, and academic progress * Conducts regular workshops on topics such as: resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills
* Research current legislation that is relevant to the field of higher education, workforce, and career development * Summarize information, so as to inform board and association members * Consolidate information into newsletter format and disseminate to social media accounts, so as to inform association members * Made recommendations for advocacy on key legislation (i.e. calling or mailing local representatives)