Lina holds a B.S. in Fine Art from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She also earned an M.A. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from California State University at Northridge, and a second M.A. in Education from the University of California, Irvine. During her previous experience as a preschool teacher in Los Angeles, California, she engaged closely with young children; in particular, she witnessed how child behavior was often misunderstood by teachers. This culminated in her master's thesis, which prompted teachers to reframe classroom “problematic" behavior as a child’s effort to communicate and seek self-regulation. Across all age groups, Lina draws upon her personal experiences and background to support learners and mentor students through academic transitions or challenges. As a 2023-2024 UC Irvine Pedagogical Scholar, she prioritizes student experiences and creates equitable learning environments that draw on research-backed practices. Lina’s research interests revolve around understanding personality and sociocognitive mechanisms that predict socioemotional development in culturally diverse populations. Drawing on her expertise in child and adolescent development, she has investigated topics such as self-compassion, emotion regulation, prosocial behavior, and their implications for educational contexts. Her work spans diverse age groups, encompassing early childhood through undergraduate levels, highlighting the intricate interplay of socioemotional factors within learning environments.