TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

As a lens-based media artist, I view the world as a complex, evolving piece of art. Visual culture is a reflection of society, driven by complex imagery that both communicates and critiques daily life. In order to achieve success, today's artists must have a keen understanding of the value of the image in society, be able to create work that exceeds industry standards, and develop a voice that engages with contemporary culture. As a teacher, I create inclusive spaces for students to comprehend and articulate artistic motivations, produce proficient work, and engage in an open-minded creative process.

My first teaching imperative is to advocate for each of my students, and create a safe, inclusive environment. By creating a classroom that benefits all students, I aim to foster equity and communication in learning, particularly for those who are struggling and need mentorship most. My goal is to have photographic proficiency be appreciated by those who are pursuing art practices as well as by those who are experimenting with photography for the first time, making each and every voice an important one. I see teaching as a necessary mirror, which allows me to learn while facilitating fundamental aptitude. By continually discovering and interpreting together, my students and I can incorporate a real-world context into the creative process, including historical interpretations and contemporary industry standards.

It is essential for today’s artist to respond to forms of visual communication with a wellhoned, critical eye. Cultural and historical analyses are fundamental skills that I impart through critical pedagogy. This enables students to articulate a complexity of artistic motivations and concepts that integrate the intersections between contemporary photographic issues and the global history of photography. Understanding the value of history and visual culture, I guide students’ understanding of photographic methods to further their creative learning and support their unique artistic voice.

Capitalizing on my MFA in Photography and my dual BFA in Art History and Studio Art, I introduce interdisciplinary involvement that can engage dialogue between different technical processes. I encourage risk-taking and pushing students out of their artistic ‘comfort zones,’ which enables them to maintain a flexible creative process garnering consistent results. In addition to technical skills, I demystify artistic career paths and introduce potential markets for student work, including publications and exhibitions. Exhibition-ready image production and printing abilities are strengthened by artistic literacy and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of photographic works beyond the classroom walls.

As a teacher, I do not see myself as a fountain of knowledge, but rather an explorer and an advocate along a journey of curiosity, discipline, and fulfillment. I am perpetually grateful to teach a subject matter that can be both hands on, and intellectually conceptual, always aware that my privilege as an educator is outweighed by the service that I provide for my students.

CURRICULUM VITAE

EXHIBITIONS

On Film: Capturing the Then and Now, Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, San Jose CA, 2019

Signaling Water: Multi-Species Migration and Displacement, Nature of Cities Summit, Sorbonne University, Paris France, 2019

Signaling Water: Multi-Species Migration and Displacement, City as Nature, Osaka Japan, 2019

Reason and Reverie: SJSU Photography Faculty Exhibition, Thompson Gallery, San Jose CA, 2018

Radar Productions/Dónde Está Mi Gente, San Francisco CA, 2017

Feminist Roundtable, San Jose Quilt Museum, San Jose CA, 2017

Photographic Documentarist for SFMoMA Performance in Progress Series “The Formaldehyde Trip,” video performance by Naomi Rincón Gallardo, co-curated by Galería de la Raza.

Images exhibited with video performance, SFMoMA, San Francisco CA, 2016

“Pulse De Nuestrx Corazones” SOMArts’ 17th annual Día de los Muertos: “A Promise Not to Forget,” San Francisco CA, 2016

“Women Are Perfect!” Galería de la Raza, San Francisco CA, 2016

Ticka Arts Annual Exhibition, Gray Matters Gallery, Dallas TX, 2016

“Yaocihuatl: Warrior Womxn/Latina Photographers” Social Policy, San José CA, 2016

Society for Photographic Educators LGBTQ Caucus National Film Festival, Las Vegas NV, 2016

Chicana Latina Foundation “Gathering The Embers” Historical Revision and Communal Empowerment Workshop and Performance, Marina Headlands CA, 2015

Glitter Bomb National Queer Arts Festival: Connections 2015, SOMArts Cultural Center Gallery, San Francisco CA, 2015

29th “Solo Mujeres” Exhibition Intersectionality, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco CA, 2015

“Society for Photographic Educators National Combined Caucus Exhibition,” University of Central Florida Gallery in conjunction with SNAP! You Are Here Orlando Photographic Festival, Orlando FL, 2015

“Society for Photographic Educators National Combined Caucus Exhibition,” Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans LA, 2015

Society for Photographic Educators LGBTQ Caucus National Film Festival, New Orleans LA, 2015

“Photo Alchemy: Alternative Processes in Photographic Media,” Pajaro Valley Arts Council, Watsonville CA, 2015

“Gathering the Embers: Spirit of Home, “ SOMArts Theater, San Francisco CA, 2014

"Photography Now?" Site-specific installation, California Polytechnic State University Art Gallery, San Luis Obispo CA, 2014

"⇧Ctrl/⌘Pwr" Digital performance, San José State University, San José CA, 2014

"Beyond Scope" Minna Gallery, San Francisco CA, 2014

"Lift Off 2014" Digital performance, Art Ark Gallery, San José CA, 2014

"Beyond Structure" Minna Gallery, San Francisco CA, 2014

"Expand" de Young Museum Student Showcase, de Young Museum, San Francisco CA, 2014

“Society for Photographic Educators Combined Caucus Exhibition,” Gormley Gallery, Baltimore MD, 2014

“Society for Photographic Educators LGBTQ Caucus Film Festival, Baltimore MD, 2014

“My Fucking Face” Video Installation, San José State University Herbert Sanders Gallery, San José CA, 2013

“Six Show” Group Exhibition, San José State University Herbert Sanders Gallery, San José CA, 2013

"Stark" Group Exhibition, Gallery III San José State University, San José CA, 2013

“My Fucking Face” Video Installation, San José State University Herbert Sanders Gallery, San José CA, 2012

"Mitt on Women’s Issues" John Pickelle Gallery San José State University, San José CA, 2012

“4x6” Photographic Group Exhibition, Gallery IV San José State University, San José CA, 2012

“MIXX Media” Video Installation, University of the Pacific Reynolds Gallery, Stockton CA, 2009

Solo Exhibition, Sparrow, Stockton CA, 2009

“From Our Hands,” Reynolds Gallery, Stockton CA, 2009

Juried Exhibition, Viewpoint Photography Gallery and Guild, Sacramento CA, 2009

ORGANIZING

At Large Member, National Society for Photographic Educators LGBTQ Caucus, 2017

Western Regional Representative for the National Society for Photographic Educators LGBTQ Caucus, 2013 - 2016

Beehive Design Collective, California Conservation Artistic Development Team, 2015

Body Positivity Project Founder, participatory community art virtual archive, 2012

United Gay Straight Alliance Youth Founder and Co-President, Stockton CA, 2004

TEACHING

Black and White Darkroom Photography, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Spring 2020

Intermediate Digital Imaging, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Spring 2020

Contemporary Critical Issues, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2019

Intermediate Digital Imaging, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2019

Image and Idea, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Spring 2019

Black and White Darkroom Photography, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Spring 2019

Contemporary Critical Issues, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2018

Beginning Digital Photography, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2018

Black and White Darkroom Photography, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Spring 2018

Beginning Digital Photography, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Spring 2018

Contemporary Critical Issues, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2017

Beginning Digital Photography, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2017

Summit Public Charter School Visual Arts Expeditions Instructor, San José/Redwood City, CA, Spring 2017

Black and White Darkroom Photography (Advanced, Art 150) Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, Spring 2016

Black and White Darkroom Photography (Beginning, Art 50) Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, Spring 2016

Manager and Studio Arts Instructor, California Color Academy, Fremont CA, 2014-2016

Early Childhood Art Education, Community School of Music and Arts, Mountain View CA, Fall 2016

Black and White Darkroom Photography, Lecturer, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2015

Alternative Photographic Processes, Teaching Associate, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2013

Beginning Digital Photography Teaching Associate, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2012

Beginning Digital Photography, Teaching Assistant for Bob Dawson, San José State University, San José CA, Spring 2012

Contemporary Photographic Issues, Teaching Assistant for Valerie Mendoza, San José State University, San José CA, Fall 2011

LECTURES

Tuleburg Press Guest Lecturer and Placeholder Community Zine Workshop, Stockton CA 2018

Radar Productions/Dónde Está Mi Gente, San Francisco CA, 2017

Feminist Roundtable, San Jose Quilt Museum, San Jose CA, 2017

Queering the Artist Statement, LGBTQ Caucus Mentorship Session, Society for Photographic Educators Conference, Las Vegas NV, 2016

U.S. Social Forum Beehive Design Collective “Restore the Delta: Anti Water Privatization” Presentation and Workshop with Ryan Camero, 2015

"⇧Ctrl/⌘Pwr: Feminism, Queerness, y Cultura – Resistance and Reclamation in the Selfie Era," lecturer at the New York Film Academy, Burbank CA for the Western Society for Photographic Educators Conference, 2014

"⇧Ctrl/⌘Pwr: Feminism, Queerness, and Social Justice within Evolving Technologies," lecturer at the Northwestern Society for Photographic Educators Conference, 2014

“Gun Slingin’ Tarts and Sensitive Cowboys: ‘Johnny Guitar’ (1954)” Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference, 2009

“Marie-Antoinette and the Construction of Royal Feminine Identity in the Portraits of Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun” Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference, 2008

“Cindy Sherman’s ‘Madame de Pompadour (née Poisson)’ of 1990,” Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference, 2007

EDUCATION

Masters of Fine Art in Photography from San José State University, Magna Cum Laude, 2014

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography with an Art History Double Major concentrating in Critical

Theory and Critique Writing from the University of the Pacific, Magna Cum Laude, 2009

Awarded the Outstanding Senior Visual Artist Commendation and Scholarship for the University of the Pacific’s 2009 Graduating Class

PUBLICATIONS

Kuratieren ALS Antirassistische Praxis (Edition Angewandte) (German Edition) Cover Art from The Formaldehyde Trip Performance Series, 2017

“Yaocihuatl: Warrior Womxn/Latina Photographers” Catalog, San José CA, 2016

29th “Solo Mujeres” Exhibition Catalog Intersectionality, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts,

San Francisco CA, 2015

“Photo Alchemy: Alternative Processes in Photographic Media,” Exhibition Catalog Pajaro

Valley Arts Council, Watsonville CA, 2015

"MFA Now” Compendium of Abstracts for the Root Division Archive, San Francisco CA,

2013-2015

"Society for Photographic Educators Combined Caucus Exhibition" Vasa Project e-book

publication and online exhibition, vasa-project.com, 2014

Iconnu Magazine, Gold Issue, 2014

Placeholder Magazine, Visions In The Dark Issue, 2014

Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference Compendium of Abstracts

2007-2009