UCLA Honors teacher, mentor and counselor. Mexi-pino. Marathon runner. Mom-Centenarian-caregiver. Yoga teacher. Yale and PhD firstgen survivor. I completed my doctorate at the UCLA Grad School of Ed (PhD ‘97) under Dr. Daniel Solorzano, and earned my BA in Political Science at Yale University. I am a native Angelino, from Wilmington, CA.

As Assistant Director, Dr. Suarez mentors and counsels students in our new Scholars program while serving as an instructor for the Honors Collegium course, Civic Engagement & Philanthropy. His educational philosophy is holistic. It’s about working collaboratively with diverse students, faculty and staff in creating learning environments that validate each student’s academic and personal experiences in support of their success and future goals.

I enjoy teaching students mindfulness exercises that include yoga and meditation that help them reduce stress, create safe spaces, & build community that fosters communication in diverse settings. I completed my 200-hour Teacher Training & Certificate program in Yoga & Healing Sciences at LMU.