I got my start as a sleep technician in Garland, Texas, where patients told me I helped them feel calm and heard during a vulnerable medical exam. That feedback guided me into rehabilitation counseling. I entered the field in 2004 and still rely on the same core approach from night shift: steady the person, set a plan, and help them move forward.

After earning my PhD, I tried a faculty role in Alabama that wasn’t a fit and chose to teach online from Colombia. Those years sharpened my Spanish and gave me space to build community and relationships around mental health, research, entrepreneurship, family, culture, and digital media. I later found my way to the Deep South and continued in a faculty role.

Today I am taking an independent path in clinical work, research, training, and opportunity-building after years on the tenure track. Higher education is contracting, but quality training still matters. I am focused on building the future workforce—clinical mental health, family, and vocational rehabilitation counselors—and serving my community with practical access to care, clear plans that use new technologies, and partner-led support.