About Me.

    My work is grounded in the belief that strong research enterprises are built not only on compliance and policy—but on education, leadership, and sustained investment in people.As the mixed-racial son of refugee immigrants raised in a low-income household, I learned early how inequitable systems operate and who they tend to leave behind. Those experiences followed me into higher education, where I spent nearly a decade working across research administration, finance, and academic operations at large research institutions. Over time, I witnessed a recurring pattern: talented research administration teams struggling not because of a lack of skill or commitment, but because of inadequate training, limited access to professional development, and few opportunities for applied learning.
    I have seen high-potential teams fracture under systems that prioritize urgency over sustainability and compliance over learning. These experiences shaped my professional mission and led me to pursue formal training in instructional design and leadership.
    After completing my Master’s degree in Learning Design and Technology at the University of Southern California, I committed to reimagining how research administration professionals are trained, supported, and retained. I am currently completing my Doctor of Health Administration at the Virginia University of Lynchburg, where my work centers on organizational leadership, systems thinking, and equity in healthcare and academic environments.
    In parallel, I serve as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at California State University, Dominguez Hills, with teaching experience in healthcare management, leadership, policy, and health information systems. Teaching has reinforced my belief that meaningful learning must be active, applied, and connected to real institutional challenges.
    As both a research administrator and instructional designer, I approach professional development as a strategic intervention. Effective learning environments require evidence-based design, opportunities for practice, collaboration, and psychological safety. My work embeds applied learning and peer engagement into training models that strengthen teams, improve operational outcomes, and build long-term capacity.
    At its core, my work is about advancing research administration through education—ensuring access to learning, leadership, and opportunity is not the exception, but the standard.

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EDUCATION
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Virginia University of Lynchburg
Doctorof Healthcare Administration - 2027

University of Southern California
Rossier School of Education
EdD in Educational Leadership 

University of Southern California
Rossier School of Education
MEd Learning Design & Technology 

California State University, Dominguez Hills
College of Health, Human Services & Nursing
BSc Healthcare Mgmt 

Cerritos College
Liberal Arts & Sciences Division 
A.A. Liberal Arts & Sciences 

EXPERIENCE / SKILLS

Research Administration + Instructional Design + Public Speaking + Project Management + Leadership + Training + Development + Education + Community Engagement + Health Equity + 

AWARDS / RECOGNITION

Outstanding Student Leader 2019
Presented by Rossier Student Government, this award is given to student leaders for their contributions to the Rossier community. In recognition of establishing the first ever online student organization at Rossier, Lambda Delta Tau Society, this award represents the dedication and commitment to creating equitable, accessible and inclusive communities for distant and in-person peers alike. 

Hispanic Scholarship Foundation 2018
Proudly one of approximately 10,000 of the best and brightest Hispanic students in the country to receive a scholarship this year and gain access to HSF Scholar Support Services which include mentorship, career services, leadership development, knowledge building, and wellness services..

Kavita Gupta Scholarship 2018
This award is named in honor of Kavita Gupta, who, since 2011, at the invitation of President C.L. Nikias, has been an Ambassador for the University of Southern California (USC). The scholarship is specifically offered to a student of merit. 

Dornsife Spot Award 2017
This award is given monthly to employees that demonstrate exceptional performance, creativity, stellar organizational abilities, highly regarded work performance and/or act as an example of an exceptional team member.