I am a scholar, educator, and community-rooted creative committed to building bridges between research, teaching, and outreach to strengthen the financial well-being of underserved communities.

My scholarly work investigates how culture, identity, and family shape financial socialization, and I bring this multidisciplinary perspective into the classroom to make learning both rigorous and relevant for students across university and community contexts.

Whether through peer-reviewed research, curriculum development, or creative community initiatives, my work centers the voices and experiences of those too often left out of mainstream financial narratives.

With this mission in mind, I founded SEMIYAS, a community-based initiative aiming to equip families with the tools needed to cultivate financial empowerment and economic justice. Through my culturally responsive financial education approaches, rooted in equity, storytelling, and collective empowerment, I seek to help families plant seeds today for prosperity tomorrow.