I’m interested in the intersection of education, technology, and storytelling.
I recently finished a master’s program at the University of Oxford, studying education, technology and social justice. I’m passionate about storytelling and computer graphics, and how it can influence the learning experience. I’m curious about how technology could help improve access to and engagement with one’s education.
I graduated from Brown University with a B.Sc in computer science and have worked at Adobe and eko, an interactive video company, as a software developer. If I’m not coding or animating, you can find me cooking, reading, or exploring . My most recent passion project was writing a cookbook of my grandmothers’ recipes, with the hope that one day, I’ll cook as well as they do.
The whole story
(thus far, at least)
In high school, I hated STEM.
I was a voracious reader from a young age. For me, there is something special about storytelling, particularly when it’s shared with an audience. I love those moments when everyone is so wholly focused on the narrative, united in their interest in wondering what’s next.
In contrast, I saw math and science as rigid, strict, and cold. It never appealed to me.
Then I saw Toy Story 3 and I wondered, “how is this made?”
I considered Pixar one of the elite storytellers of my childhood. In 2010, I saw Toy Story 3 in theaters. As I was sitting there, crying (sobbing, if I’m being honest) over toys facing their potential fiery doom, I began to wonder how Pixar makes these movies.
A quick google search and a Wikipedia rabbit-hole later, I learned about computer graphics.
I majored in computer science.
(much to my entire family’s surprise)
B.Sc Computer Science, Brown University
My original major was International Relations, but I decided to take one introductory computer science class because it was taught by the famed Professor Andy van Dam, whose students went on to create Pixar. There was something really exciting to me, in the ways technology can push storytelling and storytelling can push technology. By the end of the semester, I decided to major in CS.
• Built rendering algorithms in a graduate-level advanced computer graphics class
• Studied software architecture, systems programming, user interface design, user experience design
• Took classes in critical digital media, comparative literature, math, and art
I TA’d my intro CS class for the next 3 years.
Teaching Assistant, Head Teaching Assistant
Brown University Computer Science Department
I became a TA for CS15: Introduction to Object Oriented Programming in Java, with the goal of making the class more inclusive and engaging. I realized that teaching is another form of storytelling and by making the lessons more interesting, with a clear plot line and a motivation for why this is important, students can become more engaged with the material. In my senior year, I became one of 4 Head TAs for CS15.
• Managed 43 Undergraduate TAs and 400 students
• Created course content (ex. polymorphism lectures) to align with industry standards
• Introduced "Design Discussions", an initiative to form communities of practice for beginning computer science students, especially underrepresented minorities
I became a software developer, focused on innovative narrative technologies.
As I built a career focused on innovative video creation technologies, I also leveraged my teaching experience to improve client and stakeholder relationships, breaking down and conveying technical details to non-technical audiences.
iOS Developer, Adobe
Premiere Rush is a cross-platform video editing application released in 2018, gaining 100k+ active users.
• Led an 8-person development team for the video speed modifications feature
• Built and maintained strong cross-functional relationships across a global development team, spanning 4 countries and 6 time zones
• Coordinated with CC Libraries and Adobe Stock teams to integrate features into Premiere Rush
Web Developer, eko
Eko is a start-up with ~100 employees that builds interactive, "choose-your-own-adventure" videos, with audiences of up to 1 million viewers.
• Advocated for, and implemented several platform-wide features, including real-time video effects and Sonorous.js, an open source library for audio effect management
• Maintained client relationships throughout development and integration processes
• Initiated and organized company-wide virtual hackathon, themed "building connections"
I volunteer taught computer science.
Similarly, I used my experiences in industry to drive and inform how I taught computer science to high school and middle school students.
Technovation Mentor
Technovation is a non-profit that leverages non-formal learning and invites young girls around the world to solve problems in their community using technology.
• Mentored four 7th grade girls, helped to identify a problem in their community and design a solution
• Taught Swift and data modeling to help team build an iOS app to promote reading
Citizen Schools Teacher
Citizen Schools is a non-profit geared towards expanding educational opportunities for middle school students from low-income backgrounds by providing apprenticeships led by industry experts.
• Taught introductory programming via Pencil Code to 17 middle school students
• Redesigned course to engage students through collaboration; organized class into groups to build a complex game and promote knowledge diversity and exchange within the classroom
Teaching Assistant, Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS)
TEALS is a Microsoft Philanthropy program dedicated towards building CS education in schools by pairing teachers with software developers in industry.
• Virtually co-taught AP CS Principles to 15 high school students during the pandemic
• Developed small group workflows to best engage the maximum number of students
And then the pandemic happened.
In the fall of 2020, I was attempting to teach AP Computer Science Principles online, students were attempting to code on iPads, and everyone was struggling. I started to reflect on what I wanted, and I realized I had been pursuing my interests (storytelling, technology, education) separately. I wanted to help people. I felt the best way to do that is to focus on education technology, and help try to improve access to education and a student’s engagement with their education.
That led me to complete a M.Sc in Education (Digital and Social Change) from Oxford.
M.Sc in Education (Digital and Social Change), University of Oxford
This program focused on technology, education, and social justice, building a critical lens for the design, development, and evaluation of technology and promotes participatory, community-based approaches.
• Ran participatory co-design research with twelve 8th graders to build an augmented reality book as part of a dissertation on technology design, community knowledge building, and learning processes
• Built a foundation in social justice and education theory, connected to topics like AI/ML bias
Where do I go from here?
I believe that technology has power and it can be used for good in education. However, I also think that there needs to be a critical evaluation and careful thought on how technology is built and used, particularly within education. My goal is to find my niche within this space and work towards a future where technology fosters communities, helps (not harms) all students, and builds inclusive spaces.