Title: Assistant Director, Letters and Science Advising Office
Joined the L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising in: 2021
Education
Ph.D. (in progress), Higher Education and Organizational Change, UCLA
M.A., Higher Education and Organizational Change, UCLA
B.A., American Studies and Social Welfare with a minor in Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley
How did you get here
My career has spanned the P-20 public education continuum. After graduating from Cal, I worked with different community-based organizations to uplift underserved communities throughout California. Then I worked at UCLA, where I advised students in the College of Letters and Science and oversaw the persistence and retention of first-generation and low- income students who aspired to pursue STEM. I also led initiatives to improve equity, diversity, inclusion, and opportunity in the CSU system. I am returning to Cal after spending a few years at the UC Office of the President, where I stewarded UC's P-20 academic preparation strategies and outreach portfolio.
The decision to return to Cal was an easy one to make. As a higher education institution, Cal means so much to me—from our public mission to the diversity of our students (past and present) and our continuous efforts to ensure that our research, teaching, and service are both excellent and inclusive. Cal continues to hold a special place in my heart 20+ years after first stepping foot on campus as a college freshman. This university ignited my passion for learning and instilled within me the importance of equity and transformational change. I am incredibly proud to be an alumnus and even more grateful for the opportunity to serve my alma mater.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is collaborating with different people to ensure that our programs, policies, processes, and practices match our principles. Although I do not interact with students daily, this position enables me to integrate my deep understanding of the undergraduate student experience with my sensitivity to students' needs and realities.
What advice do you have for L&S students in general?
Your undergraduate career is an investment you are making in yourself, so explore the world around you, take risks, dig deep, and step out of your comfort zone. That being said, when something that does not go as planned or you encounter a roadblock, take a step back, assess the situation, and regroup. You're not alone in this journey, and the Berkeley community--- faculty, staff, and your fellow peers are here to help you achieve your goals.
About me
I am a Bay Area native and am delighted to be back at Cal. GO BEARS! As a first-generation Southeast Asian student from a community with few ties to higher education, I know how life- changing Berkeley can be for students like myself. That is the reason why I have dedicated the last 15 years to developing programs and scaffolds that support students with finding their way to and through some of the most selective postsecondary institutions in California. I am deeply committed to ensuring university degrees are within reach for historically and currently minoritized populations and transforming the university that we encounter and ultimately experience.
Outside of L&S advising, I am a caretaker to a parent with Alzheimer’s, auntie, postsecondary researcher, diehard Bay Area sports fan (Go Bears, Dubs, and Giants), and Peloton cycling enthusiast.
