I grew up in the Salem-Keizer area in a large Puerto Rican family, so life has rarely been quiet! As the youngest of five, I naturally pride myself on being the favorite sibling and love being "Auntie Yaya" to Jude, Asher, Sora, and Denver. I spent the past seven years living in Brooklyn, a city I deeply loved calling home and one that shaped so much of who I am. However, I am looking forward to enjoying the mountains and greenery of Oregon again. In my free time, I love playing basketball, cheering on the NY Liberty, snowboarding, drinking good coffee, and finding any excuse for a dance party.

I’m looking forward to getting to know our students and playing a role in helping them grow as people and future ministry leaders. It’s especially meaningful to come back and invest in a place that played such an important role in my own development.

One of the greatest experiences I bring to this role is that I’ve been in the same seat as our students. I had the privilege of being part of Cohort 1 at Missio, so I know firsthand the joys and challenges of being a Missio student. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work in higher education, pastoral ministry, and district leadership within the C&MA. I’m grateful to bring those experiences back to Missio!