Curriculum Vitae

Spring 2021 Anthropology Department (UCSD) San Diego, CA

Instructor of Record

ANSC 118 Language and Culture

Designed the syllabus and taught over thirty undergraduate students from various fields of study using learner-centered pedagogy in a remote setting. Through an examination of linguistic and semiotic theory, this course explored how language, culture, thought, and behavior profoundly influence our experiences in the world.

Summer 2018 Sixth College Writing Program (UCSD) San Diego, CA

Instructor of Record

CAT124A Patrolling the Past to Explore the (de)Colonial Gaze.

Course co-designed and co-taught with UCSD Librarian and Archivist, Cristela Garcia-Spitz. Five-week practicum course where students created subject analysis for the online PNG Patrol Reports while exploring concepts of colonialism and Indigenous representation in the Pacific.

Winter 2020 - Present Anthropology Department (UCSD) San Diego, CA

Teacher’s Assistant

TA for the courses ANSC 122 Language in Society, ANTH 103 Sociocultural Anthropology, ANTH 23 Debating Multiculturalism, ANSC 125 Gender, Sexuality and Society, ANSC 118 Language and Culture, and ANBI 121 Polynesian Navigation.

Held office hours to explain course concepts. Graded papers, exams, and discussion boards. Led small group discussions and breakout rooms. Facilitated remote learning.

Spring 2017 Certificate in Teaching and Learning at the College Level (UCSD) San Diego, CA

This was a 20-hour course which trained me in evidence-based teaching practices that support learner-centered and equitable teaching practices.

Fall 2017 First Year and Transfer Year Experience (UCSD) San Diego, CA

Discussion Leader Supervisor

Trained and mentored Undergraduate Student Discussion Leaders (DLs) as they planned lessons and led their own discussion sections. Conducted observations and evaluations of DL teaching to help improve their pedagogy.

Winter 2015 – Spring 2018 Sixth College Writing Program (UCSD) San Diego, CA

Teacher’s Assistant

Culture, Art & Technology 1, 2, & 3: Taught in person discussions sections that integrate course material while helping students learn how to write college-level papers; held office hours; planned weekly lessons; graded papers.

CAT 125R Public Rhetoric and Practicing Communication Online: Taught and managed online discussion sections using Zoom, Canvas, and Piazza.

Spring and Summer 2016 Departments of Education and Anthropology (UCSD) San Diego, CA

Teacher’s Assistant

EDS 126 The Sociology of Education, ANSC 124 Gender, Sexuality and Society, ANTH 21 Race and Racism. Taught weekly discussion sessions and graded papers and tests.

Fall 2014 Communication Department (UCSD) San Diego, CA

Teacher’s Assistant

COMM 10 Introduction to Communication. Taught weekly discussion sections; planned lessons; held office hours; graded papers.

2010 – 2014 Long Beach Unified School District Long Beach, CA

Instructional Aide for the Special Education Department

Worked with children ages 2-7 who have autism and other special needs. Assisted with behavior management and facilitated classroom activities and lessons.

2007 – 2009 Department of Anthropology (CSULB) Long Beach, CA

Graduate Assistant, Office Assistant to the Chairperson of the Anthropology Department, Grader

Organized files; conducted evaluations and analyses of department effectiveness; updated website; co-editor of biannual newsletter; organized department events; answered phone calls; maintained displays in hallways; inventoried cultural and scientific items; and helped with other department related activities.

2005 – 2007 School of Intercultural Studies (Biola University) La Mirada, CA

Teacher’s Assistant

Grader; facilitated class discussions and creative learning modules; tutored students in paper research and writing.

Accepted Performing Difference: Claiming ethnic identities to build national unity among urban Solomon Islands youth. Accepted to The Australian Journal of Anthropology. Expected publication Summer 2022.

2021 The Promise of Education: Schooling Journeys in the Southwest Pacific. Co-authored with Debra McDougall and David Oakeshott. Contemporary Pacific 33 (2): 301-336.

2017 From multilingualism to bilingualism: changes in language use, language value, and social mobility among Engdewu speakers in the Solomon Islands. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 38(10):857-870.

2012 Sociological factors in Reefs-Santa Cruz language vitality: a 40 year retrospective. Co-authored with Brenda Boerger, Ashlid Naess, Anders Vaa and Angela Hoover. International Journal of the Sociology of Language 214:111-152.

2009 Schools, Marriage, and the Endangerment of the Nagu Language in the Solomon Islands; Master’s thesis for Department of Anthropology, CSULB

2018 – 2019 Dissertation Fieldwork

“Return Migration and the Formation of Identity and Values Among Youth in the Solomon Islands.” Honiara, Guadalcanal Province and Buala, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands. Conducted qualitative ethnographic research at schools and in surrounding communities using a variety of methodologies including interviews, participant observation, social network analysis, and photo elicitation.

2017 Pilot Study of Dissertation Project

“Changing Cultural Values and Community Relationships among Secondary School Leavers in the Solomon Islands.” Honiara, Guadalcanal Province. Conducted interviews and participant observation in schools and communities.

2012 – 2014 Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PIEAM), Long Beach, CA

Docent: Led museum tours for students and other guests

Researcher: Conducted anthropological and linguistic research for exhibits

2012 “Student Leaders Serving Our Community” A Program Evaluation for the Ambassador Program at Weaver Elementary School, Los Alamitos, CA.

2011 PROCOM Rwanda

Research Assistant: Studied leadership and community activism in the Eastern Province of Rwanda; conducted interviews and surveys with government officials and community members.

2010 – 2013 Director of “Khmer Stories Film” Interviewing and recording life stories of the Khmer congregation at Long Beach Friends Church

2010 US Census Bureau, Long Beach, CA

Enumerator. Conducted census interviews with respondents from various backgrounds, asked questions and recorded information, worked independently with daily accountability to a supervisor, maintained detailed records of hours worked and assignments completed.

2008 SIL International, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands

Anthropological and Linguistic research for Master’s thesis at CSULB; designed and implemented research on the Engdewu language in the Solomon Islands; research methods included interviews, surveys, observations, linguistic elicitation, and analysis of data.

2007 Anthropological and linguistic research, Long Beach, CA.

Studied the relationships between 1^st and 2^nd generation Cambodian Americans and the changes in language use; research methods included interviews, surveys, observations, and analysis of data.

2006 SIL International, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Field research on culture change in a village in Papua New Guinea; research methods included interviews, participant observation, and analysis of data.

2022 – present Secretary for the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania.

Take minutes for quarterly meetings, communicate information to board and association members.

2020 Co-organizer for a conference panel on Education and Empowerment at the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania Annual Meeting.

2019 – 2021 Co-editor Special Issue: Schooling Journeys in the Southwestern Pacific. Special issue of the Contemporary Pacific Journal, Volume 33, Number 2, 2021.

2017 – 2019 Organizer for a conference panel on Schooling in the Pacific at the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania Annual Meeting.

Coordinated contributions from participants, organized the panel, and facilitated the discussion after presentations.

2016 – 2020 Mentor for the UCSD Anthropology Mentor-Protégé Program.

Met twice a quarter with undergraduate Anthropology students to discuss their goals and share from my experience.

2015 – 2018 Anthropology Graduate Student Association, UCSD

Chair (1 year), Treasurer (2 years), Faculty/Student Liaison (1 year), and Linguistic Anthropology Student Representative (3 years)

Organized meetings and events, liaison for student and faculty interactions, managed the expenses of the association.

2012 – 2014 Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PIEAM), Long Beach, CA

Docent: Led museum tours for students and other guests

Researcher: Conducted anthropological and linguistic research for exhibits

2008 – 2009 Co-editor for “Anthro-Press Newsletter,” CSULB Anthropology Department bi-annual newsletter.

2008 – 2009 Anthropology Graduate Student Association, CSULB

Founding President: Organized meetings and events, led meetings, applied for funding grants.

2022 January “Beyond Pacific Biculturalities: the fluid and multifaceted cultures of Solomon Islands youth.” Paper presentation at the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania, Portland, Oregon.

2021 November “Structural barriers to education and upward mobility in Solomon Islands: critiquing a colonial legacy.” Paper presentation at the American Anthropological Annual Meetings, Baltimore, Maryland.

2021 October “Exploring Cultural Values and Building Friendships through Photo Elicitation." Virtual Poster Presentation at the Fulbright Association Virtual 44th Annual Conference.

2021 January “Teaching English in Solomon Islands: Claiming a Colonial Language.” Presentation & workshop of paper draft for the Linguistic Anthropology Workshop, UCSD.

2020 February “Exploring the (de)Colonial Gaze through Archival Analysis and Teaching” Paper Presentation co-written with Cristela Garcia-Spitz at the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania, Hilo, Hawaii.

2020 February “The aims, obstacles, and (dis)empowerment of secondary students in Solomon Islands” Paper Presentation at the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania, Hilo, Hawaii.

2019 October “Obstacles to Students’ Educational Success in the Solomon Islands.” Invited Vivinei Tok Stori to staff at the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), Honiara, Solomon Islands.

2019 October “English and Pijin in Solomon Islands Education.” Invited SINU Talk at Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Honiara, Solomon Islands.

2019 February “Values, Goals, and Realities among Secondary Students in the Solomon Islands.” Paper Presentation at the Association of Social Anthropologist of Oceania, Auckland, New Zealand.

2018 January “When Schooling Fails: Return Migration and Identity Formation Among Youth in the Solomon Islands.” Paper Presentation at the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania, New Orleans, Louisiana.

2017 March “Youth migration for employment and education in the Pacific Islands: A Solomon Islands case study.” Paper Presentation at the Anthropology of Children and Youth Interest Group Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

2017 February “Linguistic and social change through educational and vocational migration in Melanesia.” Paper Presentation at Sandrizona Conference, Tucson, AZ

2017 February “Growing Youth and Growing Migration in the Solomon Islands.” Paper Presentation at the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania. Kauai, Hawaii.

2016 May “Changing Social Mobility, Language Values, and Language Use in the Solomon Islands.” Poster Presentation for the UCSD GSA Drinks & Diss: Travel Grant Showcase, La Jolla, CA

2016 May “Shifting Languages or Values?: The Incorporation of Solomon Islands Pijin into Domestic Language Use.” Paper presentation at the Annual AGSA Graduate Student Symposium (UCSD) La Jolla, CA

2016 April. “Anthropology – What is it good for? How Anthropology can be used to study education.” Invited guest lecture for EDS 126 Social Organization of Education (UCSD). La Jolla, CA.

2015 November “Shifting Languages or Shifting Identities?: The Incorporation of Solomon Islands Pijin into Domestic Language Use.” Paper presentation at the American Anthropological Annual Meetings, Denver, CO

2015 May “Education as a Motivating Factor for Language Shift on Santa Cruz.” Paper presentation at the Annual AGSA Graduate Student Symposium (UCSD), La Jolla, CA

2015 March “The Emergence of New Social Identities and Their Effect on Language Change”

Paper presentation at the American Ethnological Society spring conference, San Diego, CA

2015 February “Schools and Beyond: The Effects of Language Policies on Endangered Languages in the Pacific.” Paper presentation at Sandrizona Conference, Tucson, AZ

2009 November “Language Accommodation: A Critical Factor of Language Change among Nagu Speakers in the Solomon Islands.” Paper presentation at the American Anthropological Annual Meetings, Philadelphia, PA

2009 May Producer, Co-Director, and Assistant Cinematographer for the documentary “Shell of a Guy” premiered at CSULB Anthropology Department Ethnographic Film Showcase

2009 March “The Endangerment and Shift of the Nagu Language in the Solomon Islands.” Paper and presentation for the Student Research Competition at CSULB; won 2^nd place for the division of Social and Behavioral Sciences

2008 December “The Shift and Endangerment of the Nagu Language in the Solomon Islands” Brown bag presentation at California State University, Long Beach

2008 November “The Endangerment and Shift of the Nagu Language in the Solomon Islands”

Poster presentation at the American Anthropological Association Annual Meetings, San Francisco, CA

English – native fluency

Melanesian Pidgins (Solomon Islands Pijin and Tok Pisin) – fluent

Spanish – conversational

2016 – present Member of the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania

2005 – 2010, 2015 – present Member of American Anthropological Association (AAA)

2021 – present Member of Council on the Anthropology of Education (of AAA)

2005 – 2010, 2015 – present Member of Society for Linguistic Anthropology (of AAA)

2008 – 2010, 2015 – present Member of Pacific Island Interest Group (of AAA)

2015 – present Member of National Student Association of Student Anthropologists (of AAA)

2015 – 2016 Member of Society for the Anthropology of Religion (of AAA)