I have worked in higher education for over a decade to address educational inequities and barriers faced by first-generation, low-income, underserved communities of color. Through my work at UC San Diego and UCLA, I’ve learned to advocate for all those within my area of influence: the needs of my students and their families; staff concerns or requests; community building and partnership; and top-down directives from the Director or Executive Leadership. With a customer-first approach, I’ve overseen program efforts, full cycle recruiting, and event planning from conception to evaluation. I believe in accountability, transparency, and building investment across all levels of stakeholders through data analysis, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. Additionally, I believe in prioritizing the personal and professional development of our staff, which increases our effectiveness in recruiting, retaining, and mentoring prospective and top talent, thus allowing us to make lasting and impactful systemic change.