I am originally from Barrington, IL, a northwest suburb of

Chicago. My father was Mexican-American from Chicago, and my mom is German-American from St. Louis. My Chicago roots are evident by my love of windy city sports teams and my Midwestern twang (which has been diluted over the years).

Much of my childhood was spent playing violin in the Suzuki Music School of Barrington under the musical influence of my mom, a piano teacher and former head of the school. I really enjoy music, so I go to lots of concerts and local shows.

Mini me,

circa 1989.

I care deeply about diversity and enhancing the participation of marginalized groups in the sciences at all levels. I am co-chair of the AAS Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy (CSMA), and I was Editor of the CSMA’s newsletter Spectrum from 2005-2015. I am a proud sponsor of the outstanding BlackinAstro, and I served as chair of the OSU astronomy's diversity committee. I lead the OSU astronomy Bridge Program, an extension of the OSU Physics Bridge Program.

Me speaking at the White House on representation in STEM in 2009.