I am a scholar-practitioner and social justice advocate who aims to advance higher education, specifically for our most marginalized students, staff, and faculty. In the past 13+ years, I have championed equity-based work in roles within college student housing, orientation & transition programs, intercultural development initiatives, student and staff retention, and academia while working across several universities and volunteering within my communities. My equity-based work specifically related to staff recruitment and development, residential engagement, building inclusive communities from the ground up, and more has been presented across the country and internationally, quoted by others, printed in journals, and has been implemented on various college campuses.As I work at California State University San Marcos, I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (Higher Education Track) at the University of Minnesota as well (currently ABD). My research agenda is at the intersection of education policy and student access/persistence to higher education and specifically the transition to higher education. As a proud first-generation, low-income background, queer, Puerto Rican, combined with being an educator by trade, I highly value the importance of education. And I strive to be a part of the change that will continue to expand access and opportunities across all levels of the education arena (P-16).My work is grounded in my lived experiences, salient identities, and passion for learning. I am excited to network, connect with others, and explore contract or long-term opportunities with others across a range of topics including, but not limited to increasing BIPOC P-16 educators, Latine student educational opportunity gaps and actions to take, student access to higher education, student affairs leadership, university housing, education policy, first-generation students, anti-racist practices, and much more. Whether it is to share resources, collaborate on research, or even work together in a leadership role, I look forward to connecting!