EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND ~
Doctorate Ph.D., December 2013
School: University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Degree: Education at Graduate School of Education
Program: Social and Cultural Studies of Education
Dissertation Committee Members: John Hurst as Acting Advisor, Ramon Grosfoguel and N. Nasir. Doctoral studies received Human Subjects Approval for ethnographic study of youth including extensive field research, participant observation, and longitudinal data collection.
Concentrations: Late Modern Political Economy: Liberalism and Neoliberal Governance as Culture; The Neoliberal City and Risk Society; Urban Marginality; Critical Race Theory, Stratification and Exclusion; Urban Sociology; Social Justice and Inequality; Youth Adaptation as Culture
M.A., May, 2000
School: New School of Social Research/New School University, New York, NY
Degree & Program: Political Sociology: Global Development and Neoliberalism
Mentors: Nancy Fraser (Globalization), Terry Williams (Ethnography), Jose Casanova (Sociology of Religion)
Concentration:
Neoliberalism; Development; Globalization; Urban Political Economy focusing on socio-economic polarization, fragmentation and social exclusion.
Teacher Credential, December 1994
School: University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
Concentration:
Single Subject Social Sciences (TC1), California 2008 with Supplementary Authorization in English Composition (TC2S)
B.A., May 1992
School: University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Degree: Humanities (focus on Social and Cultural History)
Fellowship Award, Summer 2010
Won fellowship to UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division’s Summer Institute for Preparing Future Faculty. Graduated August, 2010.
GUEST SPEAKERS/OTHER POSITIONS HELD ~
Education Program Evaluator/Researcher
May 2013-June 2013 Evaluations Contractor
University of California San Francisco, Inter-professional Faculty Development Course
Under the direction of Dr. Louise Aranson, MD, I assisted in the design, implementation, and interpretation of evaluation material. Data collection included paper surveys, focus group and individual interviews, while results were incorporated into both official program evaluation reports and scholarly publication.
2006-2015 Evaluation Officer -- Graduate Student Researcher
Graduate School of Education's Evaluation Unit, UC Berkeley.
Under the advisory of Dr. Lisa Kala, Assistant Supervisor to Dean of Education, I served as member of evaluation staff, I was responsible for program evaluation instrument/survey design, implementation and report writing including quantitative and qualitative data analysis, program and course evaluations, and student trouble-shooting. In addition to standard Graduate School of Education (GSE) programs including MACSME, MUSE, DTE, and School Pysch, I worked with CREDE (Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence) to assist in the evaluation of programs. In Fall 2009, the four-member staff was reduced to one evaluation officer, myself, overseeing program evaluation and assessment needs for the credentialing programs at the GSE through Spring, 2015.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
*Responsible for design and implementation of curriculum for various courses including US Government/Political Science, Journalism and English courses...
Summer 2009 Instructor
Course: Introduction to Philosophy to Gifted Seniors
Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG), UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
2007-2008 Academic year Instructor
Course: World Cultures, Freshman and Sophomore, one year
Piedmont High School, Piedmont, CA
2014-2019 Academic year Instructor
In-school rotating High School substitute
Oakland (OUSD), Piedmont and Berkeley (BUSD), CA
*Responsible for design and implementation of curriculum using an equity and social justice framework.
2003-2005 Instructor World History, F/T two years
John Jay Academy (formerly Secondary School of Research), 9th and 10th grades, Brooklyn, New York
*Responsible for design and implementation of curriculum using an equity and social justice framework
2002-2003 Instructor US History, P/T two years
John Ericsson Middle School, Brooklyn, New York
*Responsible for design and implementation of curriculum using an equity and social justice framework.
GUEST SPEAKER/EDUCATOR 2009-ongoing
Presentation: Is Dropping Out the Key in a Tale of Two Cities Separate and Unequal?
This educational presentation, shown with a 40-slide powerpoint slideshow, has been given in various schools and to school district administrators upon request. The presentation explores the notion of dropping out as integral to a larger youth risk, issues of social risk, and probable lifetime trajectories. Other topics will explore the relation between physical and mental health as relates to youth risk.
CONFERENCE PAPERS / PRESENTATIONS
2008 Dropouts: Marginal Youth and Surrogate Mobility ~
..a Panel presentation at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), NY, NY.
2008 Dropouts: Marginal Youth and Surrogate Mobility ~
..a Poster Presentation at the Graduate School of Education Annual Research Day (AERA).
2007 Makin’ It Real Compared to What? Marginal Youth, Representation and the Polarization of Dreams ~
..a Presentation at the College Readiness Network led by Oakland Unified School District’s Brian McKibbens and College Bound.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: PROGRAMS, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, ART ~
5/1/2013-2015 VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONER
City of Berkeley's Commission on Mental Health (CMH)
5/17/2014- 2016 VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONER, KPFA
Organized Public Radio, 94.1, KPFA Town Hall at Liberty Hall, West Oakland, CA
Designed fliers while organizing guest activities in educational round-table style.
KPFA 94.1 FM Public Radio for the Community Action Board (CAB).
2010-2015 ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR, OWH
Educator, Board Member, Corporate Liaison, Assisted in the promotion and conceptualization of
OWH's youth training programs. Tasks included grant writing, networking with local organizations and other city officials, and recruiting local youth.
OVERCOMERS WITH HOPE (OWH) - A Media Arts Training Program for At Risk Youth,West Oakland, CA.
2002 Post-Graduate (MA) Research Assistant~
Under direction of Dr. Reinhard Lung Lai, Chief Economist of the UNITED NATIONS Department of Economic and
Social Affairs (UNDESA), United Nations, NY, NY.
Produced two background papers on development initiatives in Asia including HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT MODELS
and RESOURCE MOBILIZATION. Worked under the direction of Dr. Reinhard Lung Lai, Chief Economist of UNDESA.
PUBLISHED WORKS; RESEARCH PAPERS, REPORTS ~
Social Critique
Heating Up the Neoliberal Agenda: The GOP on Economic Stimulus (2002)
Printed by Cultural Logic, online journal at http://clogic.eserver.org/2002/2002.html.
At-Risk Youth as piece to the 1990s Out of Sync with a People's Watch: A Decade that Stole From Time
(Accepted by Cultural Logic)
BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR/ JEWELRY MAKER sterling silver / designer ENTREPRENEUR, 1997-1998
As owner created 'Blue Nails Union', Jewelers -- engaged in making hand-carved wax cast sterling jewelry requiring mass production through international markets. Accepted as jewelry vendor in singer Sarah MacLachlan’s 'Lilith Fair' Musical Concert Tour in the Vendor Village touring 50 states plus Canada in both summer 1997 and 1998. Working with staff selling hand-made sterling silver pendants and bracelets manufactured in Oakland, CA and in Taxco, Mexico.
Personal Affiliations
ASA (American Sociological Association)
Board Member: Overcomers With Hope (‘OWH Studios’), a youth-based nonprofit founded by Bishop James Watkins
Member of KPFA Community Action Board (CAB)
Member of Berkeley Commission on Mental Health
Personal Interests
Writing fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose published in various journals, including: Antipodes, 360 Degrees, Disturbed Guillotine, Cultural Logic and Caveat Lector. Other interests: Jewelry maker/ '925' sterling silver design, cycling, racquetball and oil painting (works shown in various cafes in Bay Area) including Au Coquelet. Former member of UCB Racquetball Team.