THE “PROFESSIONAL” BIO

I consider myself a researcher-educator-activist. I am committed to advancing critical refugee studies, decolonizing (mental) health, and critical environmental justice work. My current research is on Cambodian American transgenerational trauma healing. I like to think that my roundabout academic and professional paths allow me to make connections that might not seem obvious at first. I have a B.A. in psychology from UC San Diego, a M.A. degree in ethics, peace, and global affairs from American University, and a M.A. and PhD in ethnic studies from UC San Diego. I am currently working on turning my dissertation on Cambodian American healing justice into a creative book project.

I previously received support for my work through the UC President’s Dissertation Year Fellowship, the UC Reimagining Refuge Network, the American Association of University Women, the Frieda Daum Urey Academic Fellowship, and the United Nations Association – National Capital Area Fellowship.

I’m also an educator. I currently teach health justice and community courses at UC Santa Barbara through the Asian American Studies department. Previously, I taught ethnic studies courses such as introduction to ethnic studies, and environmental racism at UC San Diego and Saddleback College. I’ve also taught Introduction to Asian American Studies at San Diego State University. I am also one of the researchers and speakers working on the Cambodian American Studies model curriculum for K-12 educators as part of the We Are California initiative by the California Board of Education.

Beyond my academic teaching experiences, I was a program associate with the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, a United States Institute of Peace research assistant, and an event coordinator with UCSD CALIT2 Qualcomm Institute.

WHO I AM OUTSIDE OF ACADEMIA AND WORK

Over decades of “About Me” profiles on social media and random bios, here’s a compilation of some of the ways I’ve described who I am outside of academia and work:

  • A second-generation Cambodian American, a daughter of refugees, a mom, a friend, a Woman of Color scholar, an aspiring writer, and an imaginary music video director.

  • Someone who enjoys eating, trying new foods, and keeping track of the beers I’ve had (IPAs, IIPAs, and IIIPAs are go-tos).

  • I love random adventures with my family, being an amateur gardener and seed collector, winning at board games, doing escape room games with friends, and starting and stopping new hobbies on the regular.