At the heart of my work is a deep love for teaching, mentorship, and the meaningful relationships that grow through both. I’m passionate about weaving together faith, the art and practice of nursing, psychology, and philosophy to help students think deeply, care well, and lead with compassion. The field of mental health and psychiatry has always felt like sacred ground to me. It is a space where presence, curiosity, and connection can bring true healing, and I've always felt privileged to be a part of that process. Whether in the classroom or in clinical practice, I find joy in walking alongside students as they grow not just in knowledge, but in purpose and heart.
Education
- Vanderbilt University School of Nursing — Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner GPA: 4.0 | Aug 2021 – Aug 2023
- University of California, Davis — Bachelor of Arts, Cognitive Science & Psychology Graduated with Honors; Outstanding Performance in Cognitive Science Award GPA: 3.87 | Sept 2015 – June 2019
Courses Taught
- Point Loma Nazarene University School of Nursing — Professor San Diego, CA | Aug 2024 – Present
- Courses taught:
- NSG 4050: Nursing of Communities: Mental Health Focus
- NSG 4051: Nursing of Communities: Mental Health Clinical Practicum
- Courses taught:
- Guest Lecturer, PLNU Master’s of Clinical Counseling (2025)
Experience in Field
Clinical Experience
- Headlight Health — Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
San Diego, CA | Dec 2023 – Present- Provide outpatient psychiatric care including psychotherapy and medication management including esketamine (Spravato)
- Vanderbilt Hospital, Transplant Psychiatry — PMHNP Student
Nashville, TN | Sept 2022 – Aug 2023 - Osher Center for Integrative Health — PMHNP Student
Nashville, TN | Jan 2023 – May 2023 - Regional Intervention Program — PMHNP Student
Nashville, TN | Jan 2023 – May 2023 - Vanderbilt Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic — PMHNP Student
Nashville, TN | Aug 2022 – Jan 2023 - Renewal House Substance Use Residential Treatment Center — RN Student
Nashville, TN | Oct 2021 – July 2022 - UCSD Health – Community Health Outreach — Contact Tracer
San Diego, CA | Dec 2020 – July 2021
Research Experience
- Translational Cognitive Affective Neuroscience Lab — Research Assistant
UC Davis | 2018- 2019 - Cognitive Neuroscience of Language Lab — Research Assistant
UC Davis | 2017 - Psycholinguistics Lab — Research Assistant
UC Davis | 2017
Professional and Community Involvement
- Vanderbilt University School of Nursing — Alumni Mentor
2023-Present - Aloha Church — Various service roles
2021-Present - UCSD Thornton Hospital, Special Procedures Dept. — Volunteer
Oct 2019 – Nov 2020
Awards and Honors
- Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society (2023)
- Outstanding Performance in Cognitive Science, UC Davis (2019)
- Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort Award, Vanderbilt (2022)
Licensure & Certification
- PMHNP-BC — ANCC, 2023
- Registered Nurse (RN) — California Board of Nursing, License #266146
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) — California Board of Nursing, License #95027378
