Lead Student Success Specialist

"It's not what the world holds for you, it's what you bring to it." Anne of Green Gables  

As a Lead Student Success Specialist, I get to work with a team of incredible people who are passionate about helping students to succeed here at Texas Tech. We work together to support students and make sure they get connected with the right campus resource for their needs.  
 
I graduated from the College of Education at Texas Tech with a degree in Multidisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Bilingual Education and a minor in Spanish. After completing my undergrad, I worked as a bilingual teacher at a Dual Language elementary school here in town. My job in this role was Student Success, just working with little people instead of adults! One of my favorite experiences in this position was serving as a Mentor Teacher for the Tech Teach program. I loved getting to coach future teachers and watching them grow more confident in their abilities. 
 
When I'm not at work, you can find me filling up my phone with pictures of the newest addition to our family, my son Owen. (I'm always happy to share a picture or two... or three...) When he goes to bed, which is still super early, my husband (and best friend) Jason and I wind down by watching an episode of one of our favorite shows. When I'm not spending time with my two favorite guys, I like to grab a local latte or aimlessly stroll the aisles of Target. Bonus points if I'm sipping the latte at Target! 

Stats

Ask me about:

My Academic Journey

When I graduated high school, I chose Bilingual Education as a major because I knew two things: I loved Spanish and I loved working with kids. What I did not realize was just how far I was from being truly bilingual. I aced all my Spanish courses in high school all the way up to AP Spanish V, so I thought I was proficient... which is why I was shocked when I bombed the entrance exam to the Bilingual Education program. I was faced with a choice: switch my major to English as a Second Language or get serious about learning Spanish. I chose the latter. I studied abroad in Spain, listened to Spanish music, practiced speaking the language with my friends, and spent hours with the Spanish version of Eat, Pray, Love in one hand and a bilingual dictionary in the other. When I student taught in a bilingual classroom, I would end each day with a headache from language processing all day. I also added a Spanish minor, which I finished out with special permission to take a Master's level course because it was the only one that fit in my schedule. Becoming bilingual was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I did it. I graduated as one of six certified bilingual educators in my class.  

My Background

Am bilingual.