A little about me beyond academia:
I was born on the Pacific Coast, grew up in the deserts of New Mexico, earned my PhD in the Midwest, and now I thrive in the pace and energy of the East Coast. I am a yoga practicing, drum banging, tea sipping, bibliophile, with the curiosity of a flâneur, who is constantly in awe of nature (as evidenced by all the sunrise/sunset pictures taking up space in my phone). Without the constraints of modern life, I would happily write all day; pen and paper have been my sanctuary since childhood.
What inspires me most is beauty and the expressive power of what human beings create with their own hands/bodies—art, music, film, theatre, dance, architecture, and the vibrant choreography of life in different locations and cities.
I love listening to people's life stories and the complexities of their experiences. And despite the tragedies that are ever-present in our world, I am still in love with humanity; and I love meeting more comrades who obstinately believe that "another world is possible". And finally, what lights me up with hope is witnessing the rare moments of empowerment, when the common people generate that spark of confidence, realizing how powerful they really are through collective action.
I have never been a scholar who insulates themself from the pain, love, and intensity of life outside of the 'ivory tower'. I have a deeply felt sense of responsibility toward whatever community I find myself in, and I have been actively organizing and/or building community in various ways for over a decade. I continue to work alongside individuals and organizations to improve these places we call home and the conditions of existence for all.
