I ka nānā no a ʻike.
By observing, one learns.
— ʻŌlelo noʻeau no. 1185
Welina mai to a critical, Indigenous, wahine ʻŌiwi space to speak back to the "Ivory Tower" of academia through humanizing reflections on my ongoing educational and career journey.
I use this blog to document personal updates, book reviews, and reflexive writing. Mahalo for taking the time to engage with me.
Indigenous Studies and Ea
This post defines Indigenous Studies through Ea (sovereignty, life, breath).
AAPITF 2025–2026 Speaker Series
This post presents information on a speaker series featuring Kumu Kimeona Kāne and Ethan Chang.
A New Year, A New Semester
In this post, I share a brief letter to students, present and future in response to a reflective activity on teaching for racial equity.
A Reality Check on Collective (Un)Wellness
In this post, I reflect on a recent temperature check in an undergraduate class (Fall 2025).
AISES 2025 Reflection
In this post, I reflect on my first attendance at the 2025 AISES Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
New Reality: Undergraduate Teaching, Grant Writing, & Relationship Building
In this post, I reflect on my new reality as an acting assistant professor at Berkeley School of Education.
Retreats Galore! Orienting Myself to Campus and the Berkeley School of Education
In this post, I reflect on a week of faculty retreats at UC Berkeley.
Building and Dreaming Asian American and Pacific Islander Transpacific Futures
In this post, I share pictures and a brief reflection on a new academic appointment for Asian American and Pacific Islander Transpacific Futures.
A Weekend in NYC with NYU Steinhardt
In this post, I share pictures and a brief description of NYU Steinhardt’s in-person networking event.
National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Reflections
In this post, I share four points of reflection on the 2025 spring retreat for the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships.
Post-Graduate Pathway Reflections: Day 4
In this post, I share reflections and key takeaways from Day 4 of NYU’s 2025 First Faculty-Look Program.
Post-Graduate Pathway Reflections: Day 3
In this post, I share reflections and key takeaways from Day 3 of NYU’s 2025 First Faculty-Look Program.
Post-Graduate Pathway Reflections: Day 2
In this post, I share reflections and takeaways from the second day of NYU’s 2025 Faculty First-Look Program.
Post-Graduate Pathway Reflections: Day 1
In this post, I share a few key takeaways and reflections from the first day of NYU’s 2025 Faculty First-Look Program.
Deconstructing the publishing process: preparing and submitting a manuscript
After talking with friends and colleagues about publishing peer-review articles, I was inspired to dedicate a few blog posts toward deconstructing the publication process.
Dealing with rejection in academia
In this post, I reflect on personal experiences with rejection in academia and how I bounce back from feelings of failure.