Why Marymount University?
Marymount's commitment to promoting service learning and global thinking aligns with my belief and commitment to creating learning opportunities for students inside and outside the classroom. The most impactful learning and character-building happen through real-life experiences and civic engagement. As a lifelong Californian, I was looking to expand my domestic and national scholarly knowledge and network to engage with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
What do you hope to accomplish by earning an Ed.D. degree?
As a lifelong scholar, I am always looking to engage in professional learning to enhance my skills and broaden my perspectives. My short-term professional goal is to join the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) prestigious leadership academy for the 2024-25 school year.
My long-term professional goal is to engage in dialogue with local and state leaders in ways we can implement policies that will ensure equity and access to all students. I aim to be a part of a team to provide solutions and, if needed, disrupt California's educational system to revolutionize how we educate and engage students.
Tell us a bit about your background.
My trajectory in the education field for over seventeen years—from a special education teacher to a school administrator and, most recently, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and Interventions—has allowed me to view the challenges of education through a different lens at each juncture. I have served as an adjunct professor and field supervisor in the special education and counseling master's degree program at California State University in Los Angeles, where I continue to mentor and support aspiring special education teachers. Further, I serve on the Board of Directors for the Human Services Association, a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive care and services to families.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Spanish from the University of La Verne and two Master of Arts Degrees in Special Education from California State University in Los Angeles. Currently, I am completing my last semester in MU's Educational Leadership and Organizational Change doctorate program.
I have been married for over 21 years and have two daughters attending university abroad. While away from work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends, traveling to Mexico to support schools in underdeveloped communities, and creating memories with people worldwide.
What motivates you to complete an online program?
The online program at MU has allowed me to engage in a robust and rigorous program while successfully multitasking my professional responsibilities and personal life. The incredible team of professors and the doctoral department team that supported us in our journey made my experience exceptional.
What do you think of the Ed.D. program so far? Favorite topic or moment?
Joining the doctorate program has placed me on a new path of reflection and self-discovery. I have discovered that leadership is not only a process—it is about character, but a character also attuned to its moral and ethical responsibility to others. As a scholar-practitioner, I have developed new networks, engaged in collaborative research projects, presented at conferences, and developed my voice. I aim to inspire those I lead to embark on their journey and that together, we leave a legacy of lifelong learners and leaders committed to creating value in the lives of the people we serve.
