A first-generation Filipina American, oldest of three sisters, and self-proclaimed “Navy brat,” I grew up in Hawaii, Alaska, and Rhode Island before my family settled in San Diego, California.

I earned my B.A. in English from San Diego State University in 1995 with an emphasis in literary theory and a newly discovered love for Filipino American literature.

After working as a professional proofreader for a few years, I returned to school to earn an M.A. in English: Concentration in Asian American Literature from San Francisco State University in 2000, and I am completing an M.A. in English: Concentration in Composition, also from SFSU. I also earned a Certificate for the Teaching of Post-Secondary Reading in Spring 2002.

As a graduate student, I began mentoring and tutoring students for the Faculty/Student Mentorship Program, a program that strives to help first-time freshmen, lower-division, and transfer students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds who experience socio-economic, academic, and personal challenges make a successful transition from high school or community college to SFSU.

Working with this student population influenced my decision to become a reading and writing teacher: I originally had planned to go into literary theory and research, but after numerous rewarding experiences with my students, I decided that my heart truly belonged in the classroom.

I have been working in study skills classes as a teaching assistant since Spring 1998, and teaching English classes at SFSU since Fall 2000 and at Skyline College since Fall 2002.

These classes range from developmental reading and writing to first-year composition (expository writing) to second-year composition (literary analysis) to the EOP Summer Bridge Program.