I am an interdisciplinary scholar, educator, and higher education leader committed to advancing equity, expanding knowledge, and building meaningful connections between scholarship and community. For more than two decades, my work has explored questions of identity, gender, race, diaspora, leadership, and belonging through teaching, research, and public engagement. My scholarship spans Cabo Verdean studies, African studies, comparative women's studies, and Black women's advocacy, reflecting a commitment to amplifying overlooked voices and advancing more inclusive conversations across disciplines. Whether in the classroom, on the keynote stage, or through faculty development, I believe education has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities. My TEDx talk on compassionate education challenges institutions to reimagine learning with care at the center, and I have delivered keynote addresses and faculty development workshops at institutions including UNC–Chapel Hill, Brown University, Howard University, the Charlotte Teachers Institute, and the National Humanities Center.