Â鶹Æƽâ°æ

Background

As a Latine researcher and counselor educator, I’m committed to addressing challenges ethnoracial/racialized students face in becoming postsecondary education and career ready. As a first-generation, low-income college graduate and former foster youth, I know first-hand the value a vibrant academic community can offer. That’s what drew me to Â鶹Æƽâ°æ (W&M). W&M is filled with amazing students, dedicated faculty, robust clinics, meaningful school and community partnerships and believes in the importance of empowering communities.

My research explores how school counselors can support BICOP and Latine youth in schools through culturally informed programs. I'm passionate about understanding, describing, developing and testing programming that recognizes the unique stressors of college and career readiness for these students. I aim to highlight the cultural resources and assets communities of color bring to create balance in their lives. I'm also investigating how physiological factors, like heart rate variability, relate to students' mental health and academic success. By producing actionable data on these interconnected aspects, I hope to enhance support for Latine youth and other BIPOC populations, ultimately improving their educational outcomes and well-being.

Areas of Interest/Expertise

School Counseling, Foster Youth, At-Promise Youth, Youth Returning from Juvenile Care, Qualitative/Quantitative Methods, and School/Community Partnerships