Faculty Profiles

I am originally from Miami, where I was raised in a dynamic and culturally diverse urban environment. These early experiences fostered a lasting interest in social interaction, group dynamics, and the ways individuals and communities intersect with their social and physical environments.
After relocating to Texas in 1995, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1999 and a Master of Arts in Sociology in 2000. In the spring of 2001, I completed an online teaching certification and subsequently began teaching at Texas State University. My professional interests include online pedagogy and student engagement; I have a strong commitment to excellence in online instruction.

I have taught fully asynchronous courses in the Sociology Department since Fall 2001, during which time I have developed extensive training and experience in online education. My teaching philosophy emphasizes that online courses are not merely substitutes for traditional face-to-face instruction; rather, they represent a distinct and equally valid mode of course delivery. When thoughtfully designed and effectively facilitated, online courses can provide learning experiences that are comparable to—or in some cases exceed—those of traditional classroom settings. The quality of the online learning experience depends largely on students’ learning styles and motivation, as well as the instructor’s proficiency and effective use of online pedagogical tools.
My scholarly interests focus on the role of technology in promoting equitable access to education and, ultimately, employment opportunities. To further explore this relationship, I conducted research that resulted in a report entitled The Benefits of Online Learning: An Overview of the Online Classroom. This research demonstrates that online education has significantly expanded access to higher education for diverse and traditionally underserved populations.