Where this comes from.

I am a first-generation graduate of the University of Arkansas, where I studied economics and psychology. I am now pursuing the Professional Master of Information Systems at Walton College, on the PhD preparation path.

My father was a veteran with a 100% disability rating and a carpenter by trade. My mother came from destitute poverty and was a smallholder farmer in the Philippines. I have met so many brilliant people whose potential was constrained by economic circumstances. I came to see how those circumstances affected their decision-making, psychology, and quality of life.

I also came to realize that, regardless of socioeconomic status, everyone can be underscaffolded in some part of life. We may struggle to know where to take the next step in math, mental health, finances, or something else entirely. By underscaffolded, I mean having too little support to see a path forward and act on it.

I’m interested in how AI can help people identify their next step and receive support that fits their circumstances. I also study how people judge AI systems and the people who use them. Those judgments shape whether people trust, adopt, or question the support they receive.

At Arkansas, I co-founded and led Junto and served as Treasurer of the Filipino Student Organization. Moderating Junto Day was one of the most nerve-racking experiences of my life, in the best way. I wanted to show how debate could evolve into civil discussion and help a community grow.

Outside of research, I love karaoke with friends and practicing piano and guitar. I was an obsessive bowler: in high school, I ranked second in Arkansas. I sometimes practiced until my hand was raw and bleeding, then switched to my left hand and bowled for another two or three hours. Bowling was a huge part of my life, and I went on to compete with Arkansas in college.

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