Faculty and Staff Directory

Introduction

I am a first-generation, Mexican and Chinese American college graduate and a Teaching Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington Tacoma. My course content includes examining the production, re-production and function of racialized social systems, the history and experience of Asian Americans, critical multiculturalism in education, and intersectionality. I teach courses that introduce the use of the sociological imagination as a critical lens with which to read the world. I encourage students to think of their college degree as a tool for creating social change.

My professional contributions include having served as a board member for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges’ Cross Institutional Faculty of Color Mentoring Program. The program is dedicated to faculty mentoring and caucus work as methods for enhancing faculty retention and supplementing professional development. Also, I partnered with the Office of Equity and Inclusion as a Director of Faculty Engagement and Racial Equity Initiatives to support trainings in anti-racist pedagogy and inclusive teaching. Currently, I am a co-PI for the University of Washington's first AANAPISI grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education. Our program is designed to support AAPI and low-income students during their first year of college on the Tacoma campus. I am also currently serving as interim Vice Chancellor for the Office of Equity and Inclusion. 

My scholarly interests include: Interdisciplinary models for Anti-racist Pedagogy and Assessment; Sociological theories of race/racisms; Asian American studies; and Intersectionality/Feminist theories in the 21st century. I teach sociology courses that contribute to the Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies major and the Sociology minor, as well as several other majors. My courses are designed to support wholistic learning, critical thinking, and engagement with transformative knowledges. In my classes, students participate in frequent small group discussions, student led seminars, and activities that promote the application of theory to practice in real world scenarios. The following quote best summarizes my teaching philosophy:

"To teach in a manner that respects and cares for the souls of our students is essential if we are to provide the necessary conditions where learning can most deeply and intimately begin." - bell hooks

Teaching

2025-26 Teaching Schedule:

Autumn 2024: TSOC 270 Asian America: Sociological and Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Winter 2025: TSOC 265 Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.

Spring 2025: TSOC 434 Women, Race and Class

Courses previously taught:

Sociology, TSOC 165 Introduction to the Sociological Imagination

Sociology, TSOC 365 Advanced theories, Race and Ethnicity

Sociology, TSOC 465 Asian and Asian American Laborers in the U.S.

Sociology, TSOC 435 Migration in the Modern World

Urban Studies, TURB 312 Race and Poverty in Urban America

Ethnic, Gender & Labor Studies, TEGL 101 Introduction to EGL

Ethnic, Gender, & Labor Studies, TEGL 110 Introduction to Diversity and Social Justice

TCORE 103, Introduction to Social Sciences

Affiliations

• Pacific Sociological Association  
• American Sociological Association
• Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education                                                                                   
• Association for Asian American Studies

Select Academic Service

• SHS Representative, SIAS Faculty Council, 2023 - 24
• SIAS Representative, Lecturer Affairs, 2023 - 24
• Faculty Advisor: UWT - Global Honors Senior Thesis, Spring 2023
• SIAS Representation, APCC member, 2020 - 2024
• Leading for Equity, Antiracism and Diversity (LEAD) program, UWT, Spring, 2021
• UWT Communities of Practice: Core Faculty Fellows and Community Engagement, 2020-21
• UWT First Generation Student Initiatives, Advisory Board member 2019 - present
• Faculty Advisor: UWT – Global Honors Senior Thesis, Spring 2019
• UWT Faculty Representative: UW Tri-campus Diversity Council, OMAD, 2017-18
• UWT, Faculty Advisor, Global Honors - Bamford Scholars, 2017-18
• SIAS Faculty Representative: UWT Undergraduate Education Academic Council
• Committee Co-Chair: Student Success Task Force Work Group: First Generation Student, Staff and Faculty, First Generation Poster Campaign 2016-17
• UWT, Faculty Advisor, Global Honors Student Senior Thesis, 2013
• UWT, Faculty Mentor - Student Success Mentor Program, 2012 - 15

Honors and Awards

Highlights:

• UWT OSCARs Award Recipient: Outstanding Faculty, 2022
• UWT Distinguished Teaching Award Recipient: 2019–20
• UWT Distinguished Teaching Award Nomination: 2018-19
• UWT Distinguished Teaching Award for Innovation with Technology Nomination: 2017-18
• UWT OSCARs Award Recipient: Outstanding Faculty, 2017
• UWT OSCARs Nomination: ASUWT President’s Award, 2017
• UWT’s Outstanding Women Award Recipient; Office of Equity and Diversity, 2015