Director for Community and Leadership Development
Student Ambassador, PhD in Leadership Studies
Director of Community & Leadership Development
- BA, Marymount Manhattan College, Communication Arts
- MA, University of San Diego, Higher Education Leadership
- PhD, University of San Diego, Leadership Studies
Pronouns
Ella/she/her/hers
Hometown
Los Angeles
Expected Graduation Date
Spring 2024
What is your educational and professional background?
I received my B.A. in Communication Arts at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City and my M.A. in Higher Education Leadership at the University of San Diego. As a Latinx first-generation college student, I served as a Residence Director within Residence Life at Carleton College, Miami University and Colorado State University. I also served as the Graduate Assistant for Graduate Student Life at the University of San Diego and Interim Coordinator of Student Activities at the University of California, San Diego. I am a full-time employee at USD where I was Retention Specialist in the Office of Student Support Services and currently I am the Director for Community & Leadership Development.
Favorite thing about your program:
My favorite thing about the PhD program and in SOLES are the relationships with the faculty and peers I have been fortunate to foster, as well as the passion to be a life-long learner that will continue to fuel my desire to inspire integrity in my students and colleagues and within the communities of higher education and student affairs.
Why did you choose SOLES? What made SOLES stand out in comparison to other schools with your similar program?
I choose the PhD program in SOLES because I knew I would have a transformative experience both personally and professionally. Being in this program I will grow in understanding, character, confidence, and overall ability to serve collegiate students and the world we all inhabit. My time in SOLES will certainly not always be smooth, however, I know that the time and energy that my faculty, my peers, and my students invest in me will result in me being a more prepared, cognizant, and active researcher/educator in the field of higher education.
What are your professional goals?
My time as a member of the Ph.D. program has been exciting. I am pushed intellectually, supported in my educational pursuits, and encouraged to find ways to align my values with my current and future practice as a critical educator as a student affairs professional (AVP, Provost, Dean) and/or future faculty member.
Have you completed an international experience? What did you do?
For my international experience course I attended the International Leadership Association (ILA) conference in Ottawa, Canada in Fall 2019 and I also was fortunate to be the teaching assistant for LEAD 581i for International Leadership Association (ILA) conference in Geneva, Switzerland in Fall 2021. During both of these experiences I was able to have multiple opportunities to ask questions related to professional development and conference participation in general. Along with pre and post class sessions this course helped me to become familiar with academic culture related to Leadership Studies.
How would you describe the culture at SOLES?
I value the connection I have with my professors and the sense of community SOLES offers. Although I can get overwhelmed at times, I can always turn to a professor, classmate, or colleague for insight and support.
What internships, assistantships, volunteer work, or fieldwork have you done through SOLES? How has it impacted you?
I have received a lot of support from the faculty which led to self-empowerment as a Latinx researcher and educator in higher education. I currently, work full-time and go to school part-time, but I look forward to conducting research and applying some of the knowledge that I will be getting in the classroom to my future research.
Are you currently working? If so, do you work full-time or part-time, and what do you do? How do you balance work, school, and personal life?
I am pursuing my doctoral journey while continuing to work full time, and balancing family life. Each aspect of SOLES - faculty, classmates, and program expectations - encourage me to pursue learning and intellectual growth in ways that involve my whole self, and integrate my academic life with my professional and personal communities. The work is rigorous yet stimulating and relevant, and faculty provide crucial support, challenge, opportunity, and encouragement along the way. For me the program has never felt like jumping through hoops to fulfill senseless requirements; on the contrary, the experience has facilitated my personal, professional and scholarly growth in meaningful ways.
Which class has impacted you the most? Why?
I took LEAD 640: Contemporary Issues in Higher Education Leadership, and I was able to learn about and critique the various developmental research and theories that are currently being talked about across the nation. This course also offered me the opportunity to critically analyze my research topic and interests because I wanted to be submerged into higher education and not just one side of it.
Tell us about any research or independent study you have done at SOLES.
I would highly recommend this program to anyone seeking an intellectually rigorous and educationally supportive environment that prepares you for whatever future path you may choose. I have been grateful for the opportunities to do independent studies with faculty members who are allowing me navigate and explore my research topic and interests.
How has the SOLES faculty, staff, or administrators contributed to your success in grad school so far?
One of the experiences that I have valued most is how everyone is willing to help one another. From faulty, staff, current students, and alumni everyone is willing to help you achieve your goals and provide you with support.
What advice can you share with prospective students?
I wanted to be sure I was taking that big step towards a doctorate degree for the right reasons. For me, those reasons included becoming a better educator, engaging more deeply with literature and scholarship, and contributing to existing scholarship in the areas of my future research. You will be pushed intellectually, supported in your educational pursuits, and encouraged to find ways to align with your values within your current and future practice as a researcher and/or educator. The PhD program will offer you so many take-aways because you will come out as a better, stronger, more confident person and professional thanks to the support of the faculty and the friends that you make along the way.