Ali has received a BA in Political Science and Global Cultures with an emphasis in Hispanic, U.S. Latino/Latina, and Luso-Brazilian Cultures as well as MS in Higher Education Administration. Before joining the Department of Music, she has served as an academic advisor, college administrator and programs coordinator where she spent much of her time interfacing with students, faculty, and university leadership. One of Ali’s favorite parts in working in higher education is connecting students to resources and helping them recognize their goals as attainable and achievable. Ali feels that the successes of the students are some of the most important accomplishments to celebrate.

In her free time, you can catch Ali in the kitchen testing out new recipes and experimenting with all things food. She is a devoted pet parent to her rescue pup, Coconut. A born and raised San Diegan, Ali spends the baseball season cheering for the Padres and attending as many games as she can. She is a lover of all live music, but the biggest fan of her nephew who is an all-star Saxophone player. Ali is ecstatic to be part of the UC San Diego community and work with a growing and diverse student population.