My journey in psychology began at Santa Clara University, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. From there, my academic path quickly gained momentum.

I went on to pursue my doctorate at U.S. International University in San Diego, completing an intensive five-year program in just four years. At the age of 25, I earned my Ph.D. (Doctor of Clinical Psychology) with Honors in coursework, an achievement that reflected my early commitment and dedication to the field.

My clinical training included a highly valuable internship at the Pacific Medical Center of San Francisco in the Department of Psychological and Social Medicine. This experience provided essential hands-on training in a real-world clinical setting.

By age 27, I had completed all requirements for licensure and officially began my professional career as a licensed psychologist. I continued to advance my expertise by undertaking the rigorous American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) examination, earning Board Certification with a specialization in Clinical Psychology.

I remain deeply engaged in the psychology community and hold life memberships in the American Psychological Association, the California Psychological Association, and the Association for Psychological Type.

I have written more than twenty professional articles and presentations on topics including psychological assessment, psychological “type” (Myers-Briggs), professional ethics, techniques of psychotherapy, children’s responses to trauma, and disaster response.

One of my most significant contributions is a seminal article published by the American Psychological Association on the APA–CPA Disaster Response Project. This work shared vital lessons for supporting communities in the aftermath of disasters, drawing on the wisdom of early responders to guide the development of response networks, volunteer training, and team sustainability. The article addressed strategies for supporting survivors, children, and responders coping with stress, examined social disasters and the role of the media, and emphasized the importance of educating leaders, ultimately helping to shape the future of mental health practice in disaster response.

In the spirit of giving back to the community, opportunities arose to contribute through various media outlets. Following the impactful Loma Prieta Earthquake, there was an appearance on the  Channel 36 Evening News to discuss the aftermath and offer support. Later, as the Gulf War unfolded, insights regarding the emotional reactions to the conflict were shared in an interview with the San Jose Mercury News. The community engagement continued with a feature on the Channel 11 Evening News, where important issues surrounding violence in the media and the impact of hate crimes were addressed. It was a privilege to use these platforms as a community service to provide valuable perspectives during challenging times.

Throughout my career, I've had the wonderful opportunity to take on over forty different professional and leadership roles, contributing to a variety of organizations at different levels.

Here are a few highlights of those experiences:

• State-level contributions: I helped shape policy and initiatives by serving as the Founding Chair of the California Psychological Association's (CPA) Public Interest Division and as their Social Issues Chair.

• Local leadership: At the community level, I was honored to serve as the President of the Santa Clara County Psychological Association.

• Private sector management: I gained valuable executive experience as the Executive Director for the private organization South Bay Associates.

• Community service and response: One of my most meaningful community activities involved providing crucial Mental Health Disaster Response services with the Santa Clara Valley chapter of the American Red Cross.

Each of these roles allowed me to grow professionally and make a positive impact in the community.

It's wonderful to reflect on a career marked by such dedication and meaningful contributions! Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to be recognized with numerous honors and awards that truly highlight a commitment to helping both the community and the psychology profession.

My passion for service has been a constant driver, leading to some truly humbling recognition. A highlight was receiving the CPA Distinguished Humanitarian Contribution and the Silver Psi awards for my community and professional service. Further underscoring a long-standing dedication to helping others, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors presented me with a Commendation to mark forty years of work with children and youth in the area. The spirit of volunteerism has also been acknowledged with certificates from fantastic organizations like the Kiwanis Club, the American Red Cross, and Project Head Start, which were all very meaningful to receive.

On the academic and research front, a commitment to excellence has been a guiding principle. This led to membership in the esteemed Psi Chi National Honor Society and recognition from the American Psychological Association (APA) with a Centennial Commemoration for research excellence.

These honors are a cherished reminder of a fulfilling journey of service and scholarship.