 My big passion is to create art. A lot of my work is abstract, so I'm really looking into my emotions and trying to put those out through shapes and colors. I try to, in some way, get other people infected with that, so the type of things that I do are very community-oriented. I discovered I wanted to be an educator by chance. I came to Purdue through a teaching assistant program for my graduate studies and on my first day of class, I couldn't believe that I could get paid for doing that. I think the part that I enjoy the most is dialogue with students. I like to really learn from them and understand their needs better because in that conversation I can understand myself a little bit more and where my gaps are, so it becomes more of a collaboration. What I would like students to get from my courses is to gain passion for whatever they're doing. Feel that fire inside them and to feel motivated to do things on their own. And I think that one of the things that helps them be motivated is showing them that I care. I always looked up to all the past winners and I thought, you know, I would like to one day be able to be nominated. I was very emotional when Dean Bertolini and Dean Connolly and Dr. Harmon came to my lecture. They said a lot to me that they had that gesture of coming to my class because I look up to them. I am proud of being at Purdue. I feel a lot of gratitude for Purdue making me the professional that I am now. In all my dimensions as a human being, as a teacher, as an artist, Purdue has really given me like a big boost and a big support for everything I do and always with a smile.