I’m delighted to be part of the Communication Studies faculty at Highline College. As a third-generation UW Husky and a fourth-generation Washingtonian, my research and teaching focus on how we communicate about culture, identity, and environmental issues—and how communication can be used to build understanding, resilience, and connection in everyday life. I strive to design student-centered courses that emphasize applied learning, reflection, and dialogue, inviting students to examine perspective, power, and lived experience while connecting theory to real-world contexts. My aim is to create learning spaces that support curiosity, growth, and belonging—for students and for myself as a lifelong learner. My work is shaped by scholars such as bell hooks, Louise Fortmann, Steven B. Johnson, Michael Braungart, and William McDonough. Outside the classroom, I’m walking my rescue dogs, working on creative learning experiences, or planning my next travel adventure.