Song: "Love on Top" by Beyoncé (I absolutely love key changes)
Travel Spot: Scottsdale, AZ – There's no place like home, and I love my mom's cooking
TV Show: Criminal Minds or Law & Order SVU
Dream Job: My current job as a professor – I truly wake up excited for work every day, whether I get to teach, do research, or meet with my wonderful students and colleagues.
What, in your life, are you most proud of?
When my dad became ill in 2016, I moved across the country to live in the hospital room with him and my mom (and finished my Ph.D. there). All the doctors thought he would recover, but since he did not, I could not be more grateful that my mom and I were with him 24/7 for his last two months alive; we had a beautiful time together.
My first job was teaching dance (at age 15), and since then, I have taught Sunday School, ESL in Costa Rica, GRE classes, and now college. Teaching has always been my dream and continues to be!
Who or what inspires you?
My parents are unbelievably inspiring for many reasons, but three qualities I've strived to emulate since childhood are: 1) Their optimism and positivity never waver, 2) They are the hardest working, most self-sacrificing people I've ever known, and 3) They found careers that brought them true joy.
What's something our fans would be surprised to learn about you?
I conducted my high school's marching band and did marching band semi-professionally via The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps! Don't listen when people say you can't be both a band kid and a cheerleader…or that you can't be both a scientist and a cheerleader :)
What is something fans would be surprised to learn about the Gold Rush?
Contrary to negative stereotypes of NFL cheerleaders, the ladies on our team are true gems – compassionate, talented, hard-working, and truly always looking out for one another. Having a 6-hr roundtrip commute each week (and flights if I'm traveling for work) means that I've had the pleasure of staying at many teammates' houses in between practices and games, which has deepened what I know will be lifelong friendships.
What do you like most about being a member of the Gold Rush?
Besides getting to spend time with such wonderful friends, the thing I like most about being a Gold Rush cheerleader is how impeccably the team is run and how impressive my teammates are at balancing their careers with being such dedicated dancers! Our rehearsals are very efficient and organized, everyone arrives having practiced throughout the week, and we are all working to be the best we can be. It's an incredibly uplifting environment and a notably well-run organization.
Who is your favorite current 49ers player?
Jimmy Garoppolo – not just because he's our quarterback, but because he and I worked a charity event together in 2014 when I was a Patriots cheerleader! My job as a professor brought me out to California, but I find it neat that we both made the switch from the Pats to the 49ers!
