I an a graduate of San Diego State University and the University of California Irvine. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Business/Hospitality Management along with a Minor in Sociology from SDSU in 2007. I completed my Master's degree in Public Policy from the University of California Irvine in June of 2013. Prior to returning to graduate school in 2011 I worked in several different capacities, first as a restaurant manager, later in sales for a non-profit organization and most recently for three years in employee benefits specializing in health insurance. My exposure to healthcare reform legislation and long-time interest in the complex interactions between government regulation and private business markets led to my decision to pursue a graduate degree in public policy. I have a wealth of experience working in groups professionally as well as in my academic career, which has taught me to be an excellent collaborator and I am able to quickly develop friendly, productive relationships. While I am experienced in a broad range of subjects, my specialties are economics, algebra, geometry, statistics and related quantitative subjects, as well as academic essay and professional business writing, government and history. I am also well versed in a range of science subjects, particularly physical and earth sciences. In my family education is extremely important. Both of my older siblings are teachers, my sister teaches high school English, my brother teaches middle school Algebra and Geometry. Like them, I genuinely enjoy helping students find new ways to understand and relate to material which they have previously found challenging. In my spare time I enjoy playing guitar, attending concerts, snowboarding, scuba diving and traveling.