I am the youngest of six children and the first to earn a degree. I am Indigenous. I am Kickapoo. There is no easy way to describe my lineage. It begins before Texas was Texas. It begins with a footprint in Illinois Country and forced migration. Born and raised in Pilson Little Village, Chicago, the conversation at the dinner table was not about affording college. I've always known that being an educator comes naturally to me. I know how I struggled as a student but I also am aware of the opportunities afforded to me and how my development is connected to many experiences in school. I seek to provide clear moments to anchor students to their own developmental experiences to reflect upon. As a college professor, I believe in going beyond an educational scaffold, and structuring a backward design so that students create their own bridge to the curriculum. This ensures individual learning for the diverse learner with instructional support. 

My interdisciplinary approach to the projects I take on is apparent. This is intersectionality in action. The lens of which I view my environment is open to sensation, perception, and perspective.