C.V.

Brief Vita

Academic Experience

Assistant Professor of Public & Nonprofit Management, CUNY Baruch College Marxe School of Public & International Affairs, 2019-Present

Distinguished Lecturer, CUNY Hostos Community College, 2010-2013

College & Professional Service

Site Visitor, Commission on Peer Review & Accreditation, Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs & Administration, 2022-Present

Member, Asylum Liaison Committee, New York Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2020-Present

Delegate (of the Baruch College Chapter), Delegate Assembly, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY, 2020-Present

Education

PhD, Political Science Program, CUNY Graduate Center, 2015

MPA, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, 1998

JD, Hofstra University School of Law, 1995

Governmental Experience

Asylum Officer, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 2017-2019

Commissioner, NYC Department of Juvenile Justice, 2002-2010
(In Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration, led a department with an overall budget of more than $100 million, approximately 1,000 staff, and over 15 detention facilities and group homes for juveniles in family and criminal court proceedings.)

Grants & Fellowships

Public Affairs Fellowship, Howard J, Samuels State and City Policy Center, 2024-2025

Dean's Research Award, Baruch College Marxe School of Public & International Affairs ($4,056), 2024-2025

Distinguished CUNY Scholar, Advanced Research Collaborative, CUNY Graduate Center, 2023-2024

Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York Research Award ($3,500), 2023-2024

Presentations & Papers

Co-Presentation (with Gabriella Tucciarone), "The Asylum Interview: Telling your Story," at a Meeting of the African Cultural Alliance of North America, Webinar, 2024

Moderator, “How the Civil Rights Movement Influenced U.S. Immigration Policy,” sponsored by the Baruch College Robert C. Weaver Black Alumni Association, Webinar, 2023

Presentation, “Representation of Applicants in the Asylum Office: (Some) Basic Considerations for Law Students,” at a Meeting of the Elon University School of Law Immigration Course, Webinar, 2023

Co-Presentation (with Minji Ham), “Asylum Processing: Telling Your Story,” at a Meeting of the African Cultural Alliance of North America, Webinar, 2022 

Recognitions

Leading by Example Award, Marxe School Public & Nonprofit Management Students, 2024

Hispanic Star, Intersection Hispanic Stars LinkNYC Campaign, 2020

Special Act Award, USCIS Newark Asylum Office, 2018

Bright Idea Peer Award, USCIS Refugee, Asylum, & International Operations Directorate, 2018

Affiliations

Member, American Society for Public Administration, Society for History in the Federal Government, and the Centro Civico Ecuatoriano New York

Skills

Fluent in Spanish

Bar Admission

NYS Supreme Court's Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department, 1996