“LTEC is a family that supports its students and inspires us every day to pay it forward to others. I joined for the knowledge and stayed for the lifelong friendships.”

Hometown

I was born in Baku, Azerbaijan and grew up in Los Angeles.

Department

Learning Design and Technology

Where do you work?
I am a Privacy Program Manager at Meta (formerly known as Facebook).

How did you become interested in the field of LTEC?
I worked in academia for a number of years and wanted to grow in that field by gaining expertise in innovative learning technologies.

How did the COE program benefit or impact your career path?
I knew very little about data privacy before starting at LTEC. My advisors encouraged me to pursue new and unexplored research areas, and I’m very grateful that I did. I had a chance to delve deep into the nascent area of data privacy, which set me up for success in my current career.

Is there anyone in particular who inspired you to pursue a career in LTEC?
I was always inspired by teachers – through high school, college, and law school – to remain curious and to keep learning. The biggest inspiration to stay on track on my doctoral journey came from my LTEC classmates and faculty. I needed to complete my degree to thank them for their unconditional support and encouragement over the years. I want to give a special acknowledgement to my advisor Dr. Seungoh Paek and to the late Dr. Christine Sorensen who was the first faculty to mentor me at LTEC.

Would you recommend this program to others?
Persevering through a PhD program can feel lonely, but for those who are determined to complete it, LTEC is as good as it gets. I would recommend it not simply for the opportunities it offers after graduation, but for the experiences you gain while getting to the finish line.

What are your future plans?
I love what I do and really enjoy becoming an expert in data privacy. I hope to continue building on my work in innovative privacy-by-design technologies.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
LTEC is a family that supports its students and inspires us every day to pay it forward to others. I joined for the knowledge and stayed for the lifelong friendships.