I was born and raised in California, where as a child I discovered a deep passion for art and photography. Painting was a magical experience, with its mixing and blending of pigments to create a rainbow of hues. In photography, I discovered a similar allure: images emerging almost magically onto a blank piece of paper. What fascinated me is how art manifests from almost nothing into a vehicle to express everything — an unrivaled tool for unlimited self-expression.

At Rice University, I double majored in Art/Art History and Anthropology, two fields that I consider deeply intertwined. Cultural art exploration (the creation, discovery, and honoring of culture through art) is one of the cornerstones of my teaching curriculum. I’m inspired by the multitude of ways that art shows up across history and around the world. Art is universal and yet every culture has its own unique aesthetic.

My passion as an educator is to nurture the creativity of children and create immersive experiences that bring their art to life. I believe that art can connect communities and empower young people to be agents of change — something our world needs now more than ever. In addition to being an art educator, I am also a mother, a photographer, an expat, and a world traveler. I’m also the published author of a children’s art book called “The Rainbow’s Journey: An Adventure in Asia”.