I'm a professor of computer science, a dues-paying union member, and a technologist who solves complex problems in different areas of society. I believe everyone deserves safety, security, and an opportunity to achieve their goals, and I'm running for Congress to help make that a reality. I'm campaigning for the trust of my neighbors and community to be their representative in Congress. We need voices in the chamber that can speak to the challenges that our world is facing and those yet to come.

I've been in my current role at Temple University for over a decade, but have been working in technology for most of my life. I spend my days finding ways to solve problems, teaching others to do the same, and addressing issues of inequity so that everyone has equal access and opportunities. My journey here was anything but smooth, and it informs the way I view the world around me.

My father had a saying when we were young: “Struggle builds character, but I could use a little less character.” That captures my early life growing up in a developing country where we struggled to make ends meet. Whether it was having the power disconnected at home, or my siblings and I going to school without supplies or a meal, my childhood was one of many challenges.

I’m running for congress because I've always been a problem solver

Those experiences instilled lessons that guide me today: an understanding of what it means to be without, having empathy and being there for others, and recognizing that what people can achieve isn't dictated by their circumstances; don't count anyone out.

My family never took trips, and there weren't many in-house distractions, so I often occupied myself reading whatever was close at hand. Over time I developed a love for math, science and puzzles, only realizing later that what I loved was problem-solving. What these things had in common was they presented you with facts to analyze in order to understand the problem and find a solution. This love has stuck with me throughout my life.

With some positive influences and a bit of luck, I was ultimately able to change my circumstances. I was introduced to computers at an early age and was eventually given an opportunity to attend community college. Financial challenges forced me to drop out, but I was able to land a job in the civil service where my love of problem-solving and working with technology gave me an edge. After working for a few years I was able to get my education back on track and completed my bachelors 4 years later, going on to do a masters and PhD in computer science.

Education has granted me more opportunities than I ever would have imagined. I want everyone to have this opportunity. To have my choices. And they shouldn’t have to deal with the struggles I faced to get there.

Today I work to try and make this a reality. In my roles as a professor and a consultant, I get to be at the cutting edge of building technological solutions. From this seat, however, I get to bear witness to how those among us without the means partake unequally. I get to work with pre-collegiate institutions and community organizations to help marginalized communities have a say in planning the future, and in doing so I get to see how under-resourced these institutions are.

I get to see what’s needed to build equity, access, safety, and security, but sadly, I get to see people going through the struggles that I experienced.

I want to change that.

There are many problems that ail society. These are complex issues that call for novel, systematic solutions. Sometimes the problems are caused by the tenets of this technological world; other times technology is the solution. In order to realize these solutions, those in power must understand the problems that exist, who they’re impacting, and how. That’s the first step in determining ways to address them.

We need problem solvers.

It’s no longer enough to simply make light of the fact that our lawmakers do not understand the world we live in today. I want to be a part of the change that begins to help people. To eradicate the obstacles and challenges people currently face to get ahead and to be ready for the myriad of new problems that this complex world will throw at us tomorrow.

I’m running for Congress because of the life I’ve lived, because of where I’ve gotten, and because I believe that what I can do will help others by extending its reach and impact. I’m running for Congress because I've always been a problem solver.