A Few Things About Me…
Outside of my scholarship, I find just as much joy in the experiences that continue to shape the way I think about people, places, and stories. I am married to my husband, Anthony Robledo, and together we share our home with our two dogs, Coco and Puff. We are also hoping to welcome a cat into the family in the near future.
My educational journey began earlier than most. I enrolled at South Texas College through an early college program at the age of fourteen, defended my doctoral dissertation at twenty-five, and received my PhD in Communication from the University of Memphis at twenty-six.
Travel remains one of the most profound parts of my life because every destination offers a different way of understanding histories and cultures. Visiting new places has taught me that curiosity begins with listening. The conversations we have, meals we share, and stories people tell often reveal more about a place than any handbook ever could. These experiences influence the questions I ask as a scholar and remind me that learning is never confined to classrooms or libraries.
Three people have profoundly influenced the way I approach scholarship and life: bell hooks, Paulo Freire, and Anthony Bourdain. hooks reminds me that education begins with relationships. Freire continues to shape the way I think about dialogue, humility, and the ethical responsibilities of teaching. Bourdain has taught me that curiosity is one of the most important ways to encounter the world.
Outside the university, I am usually planning my next trip, searching for my next read, or attending a concert whenever I have the chance. I recently saw Bruno Mars in concert, and I hope to see Paramore and The Neighbourhood perform live one day. Reading has always been one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. I recently finished Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, and I’m currently reading Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez.
Cox Arboretum. Dayton, OH.
Flying to Denver, CO.
Husband, Anthony Robledo, and I visiting Las Vegas, NV.