With a deep-rooted passion for community building and a multi-faceted professional background, I have dedicated my career to advocating for and serving vulnerable populations across Santa Cruz County since 2005. Long before coming to Shine A Light, I worked in the Alternative Education sector, utilizing trauma-informed practices to support addicted, adjudicated, and unhoused youth and families. This foundational experience allowed me to work hand-in-hand with mental health professionals to co-create safe, healing environments, giving me a profound appreciation for the power of accessible therapy.

My commitment to service extends well beyond the classroom, where I love finding creative ways to weave people and purpose together. I have focused on spearheading grassroots community initiatives that support women and underserved populations, bringing a warm, human-centered approach to my work as a program manager. Whether I am coordinating community engagement projects, streamlining operations, or building collaborative relationships, my goal is always to create a welcoming space where people feel truly supported.

Driven by a lifelong belief that mental health care is a fundamental right, I am deeply aligned with Shine A Light Counseling Center’s mission to deliver exceptional mental health services to individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford them. I believe that a healthy and resourced work-place culture is essential to any service-based organization, and I am committed to channeling my operational expertise and empathy-centered background into supporting the clinicians and staff who provide these vital services.

As an English Literature major and creative at heart, my worldview is continuously shaped by a love for books, film, and art. When I am not working or volunteering, I can usually be found immersed in a good story or keeping pace with the joyful demands of raising two teenage boys.