About Me
I am originally from Rhode Island where I grew up in a big Italian family. No matter where in the world I am living, Rhode Island and my family will forever be “home.” When I graduated from high school there, I went to a small college in New Hampshire called Saint Anselm College. I graduated in 2019 with a degree in International Relations and minors in French, Spanish, and History. While I was there, I discovered my passion for education and its intersection with equity, social justice and all aspects of life. Through the Community Engagement Center on campus, I worked with several organizations that support the refugee and immigrant populations through everything from the resettlement process to inclusive after-school soccer programs. Many of my experiences took place in the classroom: teaching English to adults and supporting newly-settled high school students as a teacher’s assistant. I also began pursuing my new-found passion for education by working with formerly adjudicated youth and high schoolers at both traditional public schools and alternative charter schools.
As I headed into my senior year of college, I applied to get my master’s degree in education. However, after traveling to Phoenix, AZ to spend a week working at the André House of Arizona, a hospitality center for people experiencing homelessness, I quickly had a change of plans. That July, following graduation, I moved to Phoenix to join Core Staff. I was a part of a six-person team in charge of running services: showers, meals, and clothing at André House. In July of 2020, I concluded my year with Core Staff and began working part-time on the advocacy team there while completing a part-time Americorps position teaching life skills classes to men transitioning out of prison. At the same time, I started my Masters of Social and Cultural Pedagogy with a certificate in Applied Prevention Science at Arizona State University.
After finishing my first year at ASU and my second with André House, I moved to California to begin the San Diego Teacher Residency. Over the past year, I’ve completed my residency placement at High Tech Middle Chula Vista, my first year of coursework for the High Tech Graduate School of Education, and graduated with my Masters in Social and Cultural Pedagogy. These experiences have allowed me to pursue my passion for equity and education; the community has gifted me with individuals to learn from and alongside; ones I look forward to further planting my roots.
In my free time, I enjoy baking, reading, and spending time with loved ones. I can often be found exploring my new home in Southern California by way of hiking, beach days, and road trips.
