Biography

I was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and arrived in Los Angeles during the mid-1970s. I became a sociology major early at El Camino Community College because sociology helped me better understand my immigrant experience in the United States. I finished my B.A. in Sociology and Spanish at San Diego State University. I earned my Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA I was affiliated with the Chicano Studies Research Center and was a Teaching Assistant in the Chicana/o Studies Department. I completed my postdoctoral research at the University of California, Riverside in the Center for Family Studies and the Sociology department. After my post-doc I joined the faculty at CSU, Dominguez Hills. I’m currently a Professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Sociology.

Education

  • Ph.D. 2006

    Sociology

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • M.A. 1999

    Sociology

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • B.A. 1997

    Sociology & Spanish

    San Diego State University

  • A.A. 1994

    Sociology

    El Camino Community College

Academic Positions

  • Present2018

    Professor of Sociology

    California State University, Dominguez Hills

  • 20182013

    Associate Professor

    California State University, Dominguez Hills

  • 20132007

    Assistant Professor

    California State University, Dominguez Hills

Honors and Awards

  • 2019
    Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award (FILA), California State University
    The Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award  (FILA) recognizes CSU faculty accomplishments associated with student success or the implementation of innovative practices that improve student outcomes or eliminate equity gaps. The award acknowledges faculty who have demonstrated leadership at the program, department, college or university level to improve student success and outcomes in courses with traditionally low success rates or persistent equity gaps.

    CSU award recognizing my innovative approach to advising​, encouraging students’ self-advocacy and professional development,​which has led to increased graduation rates and less time to degree completion.

  • 2019
    Presidential Outstanding Professor Award, CSU, Dominguez Hills
    The Presidential Outstanding Professor Award is presented to a full-time faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding achievements as a teacher, as a member of his/her profession, and as a member of the campus and community.

    A recipient of the Presidential Outstanding Professor Award will have a record of superlative teaching, as well as outstanding contributions in all three traditional areas of the professorate: teaching, research, and service. The body of the recipient’s work in all three categories over the previous five years is exceptional. The faculty member’s professional accomplishments are also of the highest quality and make a significant contribution to the university.

  • 2016-2017
    Visiting Scholar, Chicano Studies Research Center, UCLA
    During the sabbatical year, support to work on research, including gender inequality in household labor, income inequality, graduate educational attainment research, and faculty professional development.
  • 2008
    Faculty Fellow, MSI Faculty Initiative, American Evaluation Association
  • 2008
    Faculty Fellow, Emerging Scholars Interdisciplinary Network Summer Research Program, University of Michigan
  • 2006-2007
    Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Family Studies and Department of Sociology, UC Riverside
  • 2006
    Dissertation Grant, NSF-UC Diversity Initiative for Study in Social Sciences, UCLA
  • 1996
    Phi Beta Kappa