I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ and have been enjoying the lovely weather here ever since. In my high school days, I preoccupied myself with an adoration of theater and more traditional academics. Although I started out as a bit of a recluse, I came into myself when I started participating in a lovely competition called Academic Decathlon. For one of the first times in my life I found recognition and community in the pursuit of education. It was that experience, the social foundations and belief that I could excel in school, that changed my heading for the better. After school and during the summer I would drive down I-10 to attend courses at Pima Community College; I was always trying to scratch that itch to just learn more.
From 2018 to 2020 I worked hard at the University of Arizona to attain my degree in mathematics. As a first generation student, I wanted to do well by the family members that had supported me up to that moment and set me up for success. All that work during high school paid off, and I was able to enter with a solid 60 credits in my first semester. This left me ample time to work on my major course work, and I immersed myself in math. Alongside my studies I took on work as both an undergraduate teaching assistant in the math department and as a content tutor at the Think Tank. Therein I found my love for teaching and helping students experience that moment of clarity and wonder when they learn something new.
I graduated in Spring 2020, and had the wonderful opportunity to start working at Alta Vista High School. There I taught students online, hybrid, and eventually fully in person in subjects ranging from algebra 1 to statistics. I loved what I did, but I always felt like there was something itching at me. I spent all day doing and teaching math, but it felt like I did not spend much time learning it anymore. It was then I decided to apply to graduate school, pursuing the best of both worlds: the opportunity to research at the cutting edge and teach mathematics to those who need it.
I am now finishing up my fourth year of graduate school here at the University of Arizona. As of Fall 2025 I have advanced to PhD candidacy upon the completion of my oral comprehensive exam. All that remains is to do good research, publish papers, and finish my doctorate.
Outside of school I enjoy aerial arts, the sort of thing you imagine gymnasts doing, but perhaps with a bit of clownish flair. I am the proud parent of two loving cats: a large orange domestic medium hair named Beep with an eating hobby, and a silly calico named Mewo. I am currently learning the keyboard, working on my singing, and developing my sewing skills to create and tailor custom garments.
