Personal Bio

My identities, culture, circumstances, and experiences have strongly informed my orientation toward community and public service. I am AfroLatina, a first-generation student and American, the daughter of Dominican immigrants, and was born and bred in Miami, Florida. Aside from siblings and extended first-generation relatives, my family is primarily Spanish speaking (surname pronounced: PWEH-yo), and Spanish is my first language. I credit both my Dominican and Miamian heritage for inculcating collectivist values of reciprocity, interdependence, and solidarity, which guide my career, research, and personal life.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Miami, I was a higher education administrator for nine years. I hold a Master's degree in Higher Education Administration and have worked primarily in graduate academic services, graduate student policy, and admissions.

I am also a cyclist. I am humbled that I am the first documented Black woman to bike across the continental United States via the TransAmerica Trail as of 2016. In 2017, I founded the Denver chapter of Black Girls Do Bike. I also served on Bicycle Colorado's (bike advocacy non-profit) Board of Directors. I have written several articles and have been featured on podcasts, webinars, and summits discussing my bike touring experience and diversity in cycling and the outdoors more broadly. You may access these on my Linktree here, if interested.