I am passionate about making service dogs accessible to historically underserved populations. As a service dog handler with multiple invisible disabilities, I have personally experienced how time-consuming, expensive, and emotionally draining it can be to train your own service dog. I am also a first-generation immigrant and a member of the BIPOC community and understand how difficult it can be to confront cultural stigmas associated with psychiatric disabilities and the need for a service dog.

I spent 23 years as a lawyer, mediator, and arbitrator, honing communication skills that have allowed me to guide mediation clients of all backgrounds through difficult and highly emotional conversations. I bring those skills to my dog training, which I approach with an emphasis on active listening, empathy, compassion, and curiousity.

My training philosophy is fully aligned with that of Atlas Assistance Dogs, where I am also a volunteer and board member: While it is my role to help and support the human end of the leash, the dog’s well-being is of equal importance. I utilize positive reinforcement and fear-free training methodologies, in order to empower both the handler and dog. My goal is to build a working team whose bond is based on love, trust, and understanding.