East Los Angeles in California is the place of my birth. I grew up in a small town outside of Los Angeles, the City of Bell. My neighborhood growing up was predominantly Latinx. Many of the residents in Bell were recent immigrants from either Mexico or Central America. My own family's country of origin is Nicaragua. My maternal grandmother, who only spoke Spanish, raised me since I was four years old after both parents passed away on her social security checks, welfare, and food stamps. I am a product of the public schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District. Despite going to overcrowded classes and underfunded schools. I, fortunately, have had the incredible opportunity to attend some of the best public universities in the nation during my academic career. I hope my research can contribute to helping others from similarly disadvantaged backgrounds have the same access I had to higher education. Currently, I research how amicus briefs influence the Justices' judicial decisions at the United States Supreme Court in cases involving racial inequality.

Educational Background & Specialties
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Educational Background

  • Ph. D.: Sociology, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, 2016-Present
  • LL. M.: Critical Race Studies and Law and Sexuality, University of California at Los Angeles Law School, 2021-2022
  • MA.: Sociology, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, 2016-2021
  • No Degree (Transferred): Sociology, University of Pittsburgh, 2013-2016
  • JD.: Labor and Employment Law, University of Wisconsin at Madison Law School, 2007-2010
  • BA.: Sociology and Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, 2000-2003
  • AA.: German and Liberal Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles Valley College, 1997-1999

Specialties

  • Critical Race Theory
  • Law and Society
  • Social Movements