My Professor Life
I'm a professor at California State University, Fullerton in the Department of Social Work, where I teach social welfare policy courses. What are those, you ask? Those are courses that focus on policy responses to social challenges, such as poverty, health care, mental health, immigration, domestic violence, child abuse, education, environmental injustice, indigenous populations, and global issues such as human trafficking, labor abuse, immigration, and refugee flow, and environmental in response to conflict and crimes against humanity (whew!). All of my work (teaching, research, writing, etc.) uses a human rights framework to examine social problems and responses. My students challenge me and inspire me. They remind me everyday of why I do what I do.
I'm also a board member of the United Nations Association, San Diego chapter. This association is the on-the-ground eyes and ears of the United Nations. And I serve as a clinical consultant for a wonderful residential facility for women struggling with substance abuse, called Dee's House. This work gives me the opportunity to invest in women who seek heal their hearts so they can live a more whole-hearted life.
Prior to accepting a position with CSUF, I was a policy specialist, consulting on dynamics such as ethnic conflict and the diaspora effect in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, genocide ideology (Rwanda), peace processes in post-conflict regions, and human rights investigations. You can learn more by checking out my LinkedIn profile.
My educational background is pretty multidisciplinary. I have a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Illinois, Chicago, a Master of Social Science in policy studies from University of Bristol, and a PhD in peace studies from the University of Bradford (UK). I went to San Diego State for my undergrad (go Aztecs!), and got a BA in psychology.
I've written three textbooks on social problems and policy: two are introductory texts that explore a range of social problems in society, and one is a human rights book, exploring social justice advocacy in response to a range of human rights violations. I also just co-authored a chapter on advocacy for indigenous populations that have experienced environmental injustice in the form of land loss or destruction. The chapter focuses on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Aymara in Chile, who experienced significant land damage and water contamination in response to Western companies mining on their ancestral lands. The book is called: Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability: A Workbook for Global Social Workers and Educators, Volume 2. I have other articles published as well on immigration and diaspora.
I have presented my work all around the world: Rwanda, Kenya, Bangladesh, Mexico, England, and of course in the United States. I believe a global focus is important because most social problems we're currently facing in the United States have global dimensions because of globalization (the world is getting smaller because of tech). Speaking of tech, I'm a tech geek (Apple!), so I try to incorporate the role of technology in most of my work.
I have extensively researched global conflict, migration flow, and U.S. immigration and asylum-seeking legislation as it relates to cross-border migrants. with a particular focus on how misinformation and political rhetoric has resulted in some of the harshest border enforcement policies in decades, resulting in mass human rights violations. This is why I am so concerned about the forced separations of Central American families seeking political asylum at the border southwest border. It's an illegal practice as determined by a federal court in San Diego. It was also unnecessary and used (again, illegally) as a deterrent to cross-border migrants seeking asylum. I began blogging about my research and advocacy work related in immigration when a Facebook post I wrote in June 2018 went viral. I work hard to use whatever voice I have to disseminate accurate information about immigrants and immigration to counter anti-immigrant political rhetoric.
Before entering academia, I had a long career as a social worker, working in a number of different practice settings, including child welfare, victim advocacy, hospice, schools, mental health and refugee resettlement. I've counseled families who just lost a child, survivors of domestic violence, trafficked teens, gang members, and recently arrived refugees, many of whom were survivors of rape (as a weapon of war), and genocide. My work with people all over the world has influenced me greatly and drives my passions, in my teaching, research, and writing, although my passions do not compromise my objectivity.
I'm also a board member of the United Nations Association, San Diego chapter. This association is the on-the-ground eyes and ears of the United Nations. And I serve as a clinical consultant for a wonderful residential facility for women struggling with substance abuse, called Dee's House. This work gives me the opportunity to invest in women who seek heal their hearts so they can live a more whole-hearted life.
Prior to accepting a position with CSUF, I was a policy specialist, consulting on dynamics such as ethnic conflict and the diaspora effect in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, genocide ideology (Rwanda), peace processes in post-conflict regions, and human rights investigations. You can learn more by checking out my LinkedIn profile.
My educational background is pretty multidisciplinary. I have a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Illinois, Chicago, a Master of Social Science in policy studies from University of Bristol, and a PhD in peace studies from the University of Bradford (UK). I went to San Diego State for my undergrad (go Aztecs!), and got a BA in psychology.
I've written three textbooks on social problems and policy: two are introductory texts that explore a range of social problems in society, and one is a human rights book, exploring social justice advocacy in response to a range of human rights violations. I also just co-authored a chapter on advocacy for indigenous populations that have experienced environmental injustice in the form of land loss or destruction. The chapter focuses on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Aymara in Chile, who experienced significant land damage and water contamination in response to Western companies mining on their ancestral lands. The book is called: Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability: A Workbook for Global Social Workers and Educators, Volume 2. I have other articles published as well on immigration and diaspora.
I have presented my work all around the world: Rwanda, Kenya, Bangladesh, Mexico, England, and of course in the United States. I believe a global focus is important because most social problems we're currently facing in the United States have global dimensions because of globalization (the world is getting smaller because of tech). Speaking of tech, I'm a tech geek (Apple!), so I try to incorporate the role of technology in most of my work.
I have extensively researched global conflict, migration flow, and U.S. immigration and asylum-seeking legislation as it relates to cross-border migrants. with a particular focus on how misinformation and political rhetoric has resulted in some of the harshest border enforcement policies in decades, resulting in mass human rights violations. This is why I am so concerned about the forced separations of Central American families seeking political asylum at the border southwest border. It's an illegal practice as determined by a federal court in San Diego. It was also unnecessary and used (again, illegally) as a deterrent to cross-border migrants seeking asylum. I began blogging about my research and advocacy work related in immigration when a Facebook post I wrote in June 2018 went viral. I work hard to use whatever voice I have to disseminate accurate information about immigrants and immigration to counter anti-immigrant political rhetoric.
Before entering academia, I had a long career as a social worker, working in a number of different practice settings, including child welfare, victim advocacy, hospice, schools, mental health and refugee resettlement. I've counseled families who just lost a child, survivors of domestic violence, trafficked teens, gang members, and recently arrived refugees, many of whom were survivors of rape (as a weapon of war), and genocide. My work with people all over the world has influenced me greatly and drives my passions, in my teaching, research, and writing, although my passions do not compromise my objectivity.