I am a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, where I received two bachelor's degrees in Political Science / International Relations and Spanish (Linguistics & Literature). I went on to complete a Master's Degree in Spanish & Latin American Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. I also completed Ph.D. coursework in Spanish while pursuing graduate work at U.T. Austin. Since that time, I have carried out a number of jobs in the Washington, DC region involving Spanish translation, interpretation, writing, and research. Since 2005, I have worked as a Spanish teacher in DC Public Schools, as well as several public charter schools. I also taught social science courses, such as government, history and geography, in addition to English as a Second Language (ESL).
Throughout my time as a graduate student, as well as during my years of full-time Spanish teaching, I have privately tutored students, both at university level, as well as those attending public schools (middle school, high school). I have also taught as an adjuct Spanish professor at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), as well as Austin Community College (ACC). I thoroughly enjoy tutoring students one-on-one, or teaching in small groups, and have found particular success in assisting students with writing assignments - whether in Spanish or in English - and in a variety of subjects: English Literature, World Cultures, History, and Government/Political Science.
Beyond teaching and tutoring, I am a "news and political junkie," enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction, enjoy playing the trumpet and listening to Jazz and Latino Music, and for exercise, enjoy the occasional urban bike ride throughout Washington, DC.