I am a transracial and transnational adoptee from Bogotá, Colombia, South America. I am an advocate for increased adoption related research and training within counselor education and am passionate about improving mental health outcomes for transracially adopted persons. I currently serve as an Associate Professor at Palo Alto University in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate degree program.

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I am a licensed professional counselor in Virginia and licensed professional clinical counselor in Maryland. I am an approved supervisor in Virginia and Maryland, Board Certified Counselor (NCC), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and Board Certified Telemental-Health provider (BC-TMH). I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Human Services and Rehabilitation Counseling respectively from the George Washington University. Earlier in my career I worked in community mental health, prenatal clinics, and with immigrant populations. After I completed post graduate training in Marriage and Family Therapy which included a yearlong clinical practicum under live supervision, I opened an independent practice specializing in working with adults, children, and families connected to adoption and foster care. It was my clinical and advocacy work with transracial and transnational adoptee communities that inspired my interest to complete a doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from Virginia Tech. In addition to serving as an Assistant Professor I also provide clinical supervision with others working towards full licensure. I also maintain clinical counseling skills by volunteering as a pro bono clinical mental health counseling for the Arlington Free Clinic.