For as long as I can remember astronomy and space exploration have been my passion. As a child, every trip to the library meant checking out any books about astronomy, rockets, and astronauts I could find and burying myself in them. As a first-generation college student, I studied astronomy and quickly discovered that I enjoyed discussing mathematics and astronomy even more than I liked studying them. This joy of sharing knowledge and excitement about math and science led me to several years of teaching at-risk populations of high school and adult learners. Through teaching I also found a deep appreciation for learning design, developing math and science learning materials for online and in-person instruction. I have also been incredibly fortunate to turn my love of learning into a career as an author of several science books for young readers, with my book The Space Race chosen as Phoenix Public Library’s One Book, One Phoenix choice for the summer of 2019.

Today, I continue exploring new paths in learning design. I am enrolled in ASU’s Learning Design and Technology MEd program, with a projected graduation of May 2025. I hope the skills and knowledge gained through this program will grant me more opportunities to share my passion for Earth and space science through education.