I am the Global Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning for iDE, a mid-size international development NGO working in 10 countries that focuses on market-based solutions to fight poverty in a dozen countries around the world. I lead the functional areas of monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning at iDE globally in this Senior Director role by leading our global measurement strategy across our work in sectors like agriculture, climate resilience, water, sanitation, hygiene, gender equity, and market systems development. I oversee strategic initiatives to ensure iDE's rigorous measurement efforts are also inclusive, participatory, and ethical and support MERL staff across iDE countries to implement these efforts. Additionally, I design and implement research and evaluations, oversee complex data analyses, promote iDE thought leadership efforts, develop training opportunities, support new business efforts, and have a Professional Scrum Master I Certification.

I obtained my Ph.D. as a Provost's Fellow from the University of Southern California (USC) in Political Science and International Relations, with previous bachelor’s and master’s degrees specializing in Psychology and Anthropology from USC and the University of Chicago, respectively. My research sits at the intersection of Comparative Politics and International Political Economy, with a focus on International Development. I have additionally completed two Graduate Certificates: Social Science Research Methods, and International Public Policy and Planning from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.

I was awarded a U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Fellowship to conduct fieldwork in Costa Rica, hosted by CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza), and a USC Research Enhancement Fellowship for fieldwork in Mauritius. I have served as a Consultant at the World Bank Development Impact Evaluation (DIME) unit in the Development Research Group, currently working on research projects related to project evaluation.

I have been heavily involved in mentoring and initiatives serving underrepresented groups in academia for over a decade. As a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow and first-generation college student myself, I have helped with current initiatives and/or developed new ones while at USC, as well as in my previous positions as Director of International Partnerships & Education at the University of North Texas, and the Director of University Programs for a study abroad program in Argentina.

Outside the classroom, I love all things food-related, hiking and trying adventure sports, travel, and exploring new places with my family. Outreach has always been an important part of my life. Spanish-born and raised in the U.S., I’ve lived in four countries on three continents, and have traveled/worked in approximately 45 countries.