“If Black English isn’t a Language, then tell me, what is?”
-James Baldwin
After transferring from Los Angeles City College, I earned a BA in Applied Linguistics from UCLA with College and Departmental Honors as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow. After getting an MA in linguistics in 2019, I am currently a PhD candidate in the department of Linguistics at UCSB. My research specializations are African American Language and Culture, Political Discourse, and Educational Linguistics.
I am originally from Compton, California and, as a first generation college student, allow my lived experiences and positionality to inform my research, teaching, and mentorship. I am passionate about the intersection of the Black experience and higher education, and strive to increase access and participation of historically marginalized peoples.