Describe yourself in three words or phrases.
Empathetic, flexible and always learning.
What do you like most about your job?
Bringing people together. I love seeing residents and alumni from completely different generations and backgrounds meet, find common ground and form an immediate connection across the I-House mission.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
I’m working to reconnect the wider International House network and explore how we can extend its mission beyond Berkeley. With our centenary approaching, it’s an exciting moment to reflect on our incredible impact over the past 100 years, and to think about our role in the next century.
What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?
Helping I-House through the pandemic. We had to make some extremely difficult decisions, but our community looked after one another throughout. Empathy and a shared purpose can carry people through even the hardest periods.
What’s a small daily habit that helps you in your work?
I regularly stop to ask: What are we actually trying to accomplish? Who owns it? What is the next decision or action? That shows up in how I refine agendas, memos, budgets, governance questions, fundraising plans, and even messages before sending them. Essentially, I try to make something complicated a little clearer.
What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector over the next few years?
For intercultural understanding to become a more deliberate part of the student experience. Giving people meaningful opportunities to encounter different perspectives can have an impact long after graduation.
What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?
The phrase “you can’t be what you can’t see”, shared by a campus leader I deeply respect. It’s a valuable reminder that inclusion must be visible at every level, particularly in leadership.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?
Listen before assuming you have the answer. Some of the best decisions I’ve made have come from taking the time to understand another person’s perspective – and being willing to change course.
