About Me

My family came to the United States as refugees with nothing. Through the support of the community, teachers and staff at California public schools, my siblings and I were given opportunities that allowed us to thrive. I feel strongly that my success is a direct result of the high-quality public school education I received from preschool through high school.

A woman in a military uniform holding a flag during a formal ceremony inside a large indoor sports gymnasium with people lined up in military uniforms in the background.

A group of children sitting on a stone ledge surrounded by yellow flowers, with a wooden lattice and green shrubbery in the background.

After graduating high school in San Jose, I earned a full scholarship to Marquette University, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. I was commissioned in the US Navy as a Cryptologic Officer in May 1997.

I completed my Master of Science in Applied Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University in 2002, while stationed at the National Security Agency, and was named the NSA’s Junior Officer of the Year in 2001 for Analysis and Production. In 2004, I left active duty after seven years to pursue my Optometry degree.

In March 2020, I was activated in the California Air National Guard as a medical liaison officer, providing regional medical support teams to medical facilities throughout the state. I served as the Commander of the 129th Medical Group from 2021 to 2024, and I retired as a Colonel in the California Air National Guard in May 2025.

Military officer wearing camouflage uniform provides medical assistance to an elderly man sitting on a chair, conducting eye examination

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A group of four people standing outdoors in front of a congratulation banner, celebrating a graduation. The woman on the left is wearing a white top and floral pants, smiling. The young woman beside her is in a graduation cap and gown, holding a diploma. The man next to her is in a navy polo and khakis, and the boy on the right is in a bright green T-shirt and shorts, with a baseball cap.

Two women smiling at the camera while one woman presents a large bouquet of flowers to the other. They are indoors near large windows with greenery outside.

While serving in the Navy Reserve as the Executive Officer of NR Navy Information Operations Command Camp Parks, I completed my Doctor of Optometry at UC Berkeley in 2009 and my residency in Primary Care and Vision Rehabilitation at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northport, NY, in 2010.

My husband and I returned to California, I opened my optometry office in Sacramento, and we settled in Granite Bay to raise our children with the importance of a good public education in mind.

Since 2023, I pivoted from private practice optometry to provide no-cost eye exams and glasses to high-needs children throughout Northern California through Vision To Learn.

Service has continued to be a thread through my life from childhood through nearly 30 years of military service and now my Optometry career. I plan to continue dedicating my life to the service of our community as a Trustee for the Eureka Union School District.

I need your help to make that happen.