Beginnings
I was born in Pasadena, California, to a Japanese-American household. When I was five, my family moved to a small farming community in rural Oklahoma. My view of the world was through the eyes of a standout minority-- racially, culturally, religiously, and politically. This experience shaped me into a resilient leader, where creative confidence fuels my commitment to drive change and create systems that empower the potential in everyone.
Ancestral Resilience
My family's history is one of perseverance and resilience. During World War II, my ancestors were among those removed from their lives and incarcerated following Executive Order 9066. They were forced to abandon their homes and businesses and to live in a multi-family barrack at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center until the war ended. There, my grandmother and her three siblings were born.
This often-neglected chapter of history profoundly shaped my understanding of power and systems of justice, and fuels a burning desire within me to reclaim the voice that was silenced by extreme cultural assimilation. Through this understanding, I aim to empower those around me to speak their truths and rewrite the narrative of their lives.
Academia
In May of 2022, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelors of Arts in International Area Studies, specializing in Development and Political Ecology.
My academic journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of global issues, reciprocity, power dynamics, and the intricate relationships between humans and environment.
My senior year, I published my 40 page thesis, Turbine Trouble: How Commercial Wind Threatens Sustainable Development in Rural Oklahoma, in the OU Honors Undergraduate Research Journal. This work was a love letter to my hometown, analyzing the impact of a just transition.
Back to Business
Throughout college, I worked in immigration law at Farzaneh Law Firm to support clients seeking legal status in the Oklahoma City metro. I managed a steady caseload, prepared documentation for federal applications, and helped clients through complex legal processes.
Notably, I developed organizational systems for case tracking and compliance that were then standardized throughout the firm. This work showed me the importance of systems and allowed me to develop my skills in building systems for others.
After graduation, I accepted a role as the first employee and Ecological Operations and Development Manager at a start-up called Generation Conscious. In just one year we scaled from 10 to 24 university partners.
Here, I was mentored and trained as a multi-faceted business professional. I recruited a nationwide team of over 50 student workers and managed their individual fellowship projects. I designed digital fundraising and marketing assets that led to $250k+ in equity investments. I utilized my background in research to write grant, accelerator, and award applications that led to the company winning the title of Most Innovative Reuse Company at the annual Reusies Awards, hosted by Circularity. I oversaw development of emerging climate technology from an idea to an iterative, tangible product.
Finding FAM
I joined First Americans Museum (FAM) in 2023 as a Finance and Development Associate, supporting the everyday tasks that keep a cultural institution moving. I helped organize documents and track receivable funds. As I learned the rhythm of the museum, I was gradually trusted with more responsibility, from refining internal workflows to helping staff navigate the systems that support their projects.
Over time, I found myself drawn to the structure behind the work: the timelines, budgets, and language that connects a project to its funding source. This led me to become a full time grant writer where I managed deadlines, prepared reports, and prospected new leads. I discovered that I enjoyed bringing clarity to complicated processes and helping teams communicate big ideas to stakeholders.
Eventually, I stepped into my current role as Finance and Development Administrator, where I support the museum's budgeting and fundraising cycles. I build culturally-informed tools that help staff understand compliance and make decisions with confidence. Much of my work focuses on creating shared systems, and then developing roles to train on those systems. Through this growth, I've come to understand my strength in designing accessible pathways for information, and turning the complexities of grants and federal compliance into something collaborative, transparent, and transformative.