About
My Story
I am the granddaughter of a farmworker and a grandmother who worked as a housekeeper before ultimately owning her own small business. My father is a retired US Postal Service employee, and my mother worked for over 25 years as a public employee. Their sacrifices and determination made it possible for me to have greater education and career opportunities. They are my role models as my husband and I raise our two children in Goleta.
I am the product of public K-12 schools and a graduate of Stanford University and USC. I began my professional career working to support economic development and community programs at the city level. Later in my career, I developed expertise in communications and community building as the Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Santa Barbara City College. I have extensive local experience conducting bilingual community outreach and working with residents to develop community-based solutions. To further serve my community, I completed comprehensive training as a Public Information Officer (PIO) through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and FEMA. Most recently, I used this training as a volunteer PIO alongside Santa Barbara County’s first responders, providing critical information to our community during local emergencies like the Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris Flow.
I have proudly served on the Goleta Union School District Board for the last eight years. In a demonstration of their confidence in my leadership, my fellow board members have elected me twice to serve as Board President. In this leadership role I have followed through on my solid commitment to high-quality education and serving our community’s students, teachers, staff, and families. During these years, I’ve been honored to meet and get to know so many parents and community members throughout our City.
With Masters Degrees in land use planning and in public administration, I have a deep understanding of how city government should work, how it should be accountable to the community, and how essential thoughtful planning is to sustainable communities. As a council member, I will be a committed, proactive, and responsive representative for the residents of District 1 and the Goleta community as a whole. I am confident that working together we can preserve the character of our Goleta neighborhoods, enhance public safety, address traffic congestion and improve our roads, expand bicycle and pedestrian accessibility, support our local economy, and safeguard our precious environment.
MY COMMUNITY SERVICE
Over the years, I have volunteered with numerous Boards and Community Groups. Some examples include:
Current
- Goleta Union School District, Trustee
- City of Goleta, Grant Funding Review Committee
- CALM, Board of Directors
- Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, Board of Directors
- Santa Barbara Sierra Club, Chair
- California School Boards Association, Assembly Delegate
- Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, Volunteer Bilingual Public Information Officer
Previous
- City of Goleta Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan, Technical Advisory Committee Member
- Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund, Board of Directors
- Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee, President
- Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County, Board of Directors
