Ofu Island, American Samoa. Photo credit: VedPhoto
I see myself as a global citizen that finds meaning in thinking about and discussing complex environmental and societal issues. My early childhood was spent in various parts of Jalisco, Mexico and Spanish was my first language. We moved to the states when I started grade school and moved around a lot. I attended high school in Santa Fe, New Mexico and during that time did one year of study abroad in Sicily, Italy. I received my B.S. in Environmental Studies, with a minor in Biology, from Chaminade University of Honolulu in 2009. I then went to Stanford University where I joined the Palumbi lab at Hopkins Marine Station and received my Ph.D. in 2016. When I am not teaching or doing science, I enjoy traveling, music and art, and being in nature. Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Chaminade University of Honolulu (Fall 2020-present).Marine Biology Researcher, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (2017-present). I am leading a collaboration with the Gates Coral Lab. We are investigating coral genetic diversity across an urban reef with variable environmental conditions.