I am the son of undocumented Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college student. 

While in college, I was a biochemistry major but was pushed out of the field after facing homelessness and many systemic barriers.

Being a first-generation college student of color was intrinsic to my identity, but being unhoused allowed me to think beyond my own experience, see systems of inequality, and how those systems interact with countless lived experiences. 

I persevered and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from UC San Diego at the age of 21. After earning a master's degree from CSU Northridge, I became the first person in my lineage to earn an advanced degree from an American institution.

As a result, I began to see myself as a victor—not a victim—of systemic inequalities.

Now, I am focused on becoming a professor at an R1 University, developing policies that attract and retain Latino/x students to STEM fields and bolster science education pathways for all students.