Dr. Eric
PhD Sociology, 25+ Years Educator
- PhD in Sociology
- 25+ years, K-12 to university
Specialties: Sociology · Philosophy
Why Dr. Eric teaches here
Thank you for taking a moment to learn a bit about me and about how I might be able to help support your learner on their educational journey.
Over the past twenty-five years, I have valued the opportunity to teach across various educational levels including K-12 public schools, community colleges, and at 4-year public and private universities. I hold a PhD in Sociology and I am a generalist by training. I currently teach courses in the areas of class, culture, family, ethnicity, gender, methodology, philosophy, race, social justice, and theory. I also actively mentor students in research, writing, and in their continuation into graduate, law, and medical school. Over the past decade, I have also created programs to help incoming college students develop a sense of belonging, connect to positive peers, and academically excel.
In all of my classes, I work to develop strategies that foster presence, openness and a reflexive learning environment where student support, acknowledgement of the intrinsic value of every student, and efforts to promote student persistence and success are requisite. Through critical, contextualized learning; active and ongoing student mentorship; progressive and responsive course development, and the creation of experiential opportunities, I have constructed inclusive and enriched academic experiences for students, where they are at, and that help equip them for where they want to go.
At YSA, I look forward to providing courses that build knowledge through reflexive, reciprocal learning, to inspire growth in the minds and lives of our students, and to help foster belonging within this rich learning community.
What students experience in Dr. Eric's classes
High Engagement
A university professor with 25 years of experience in K-12 classrooms and college courses, Dr. Eric connects big subjects like class, culture, ethnicity, gender, philosophy, race, and social justice to questions students already care about. A sociologist by training, he builds active, discussion-driven classes where students critically analyze their socially constructed world and develop their own sense of agency.
Intellectual Safety
Dr. Eric builds safe, open, reflexive classrooms where every student's contribution is acknowledged and thinking out loud is the work, not a misstep. He understands each learner's perspective as valuable, so speaking up never feels like a gamble.
True Belonging
As an underrepresented Latino in higher education, he has spent over a decade developing courses and building academic enrichment programs that help incoming college students develop a sense of belonging, identify academic resources, and excel. Dr. Eric brings that same intention to YSA, where his aim is for every student to learn, build, and grow within a positive learning community.
The right mentor can change everything.
You don't have to figure this out alone. See where Dr. Eric and the rest of the YSA village are teaching this season.
Explore Dr. Eric's Courses →Explore Dr. Eric's Courses
Discover the courses and camps Dr. Eric teaches.
College Admissions Essays
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College Prep 101 Taught By A Professor
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Ecology & Culture: The Amazon
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Ethics
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Ethnic Studies
While the United States is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, our understand ...
Gender Studies
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COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions Parents Ask.
Everything you need to know about Young Scholars Academy.
What is Young Scholars Academy?
YSA is a WASC-accredited virtual village for gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students ages 5–25. We offer 200+ live online courses (from Minecraft Redstone Engineering to AP Psychology to Mock Trial) with a maximum of 6–8 students per course, taught by 20 hand-selected mentor teachers who are neurodivergent themselves. We serve 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries. This is not a marketplace. It's a school and a community.
How does it work?
During Fall and Spring semesters, courses meet once a week, live on Zoom, 50 minutes per session. During Summer, camps run Monday through Friday, one week at a time. When your child enrolls in 3 or more courses, they get free access to Homeroom Social Club — a weekly gathering with a consistent group of friends. Between courses, students hang out on our virtual campus where they walk as avatars, eat lunch together, and build real friendships with kids from around the world who finally get them.
Who is this for?
Gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students, including kids with ADHD, autism, giftedness, anxiety, dyslexia, and PDA. No diagnosis required. If your child is clever, quirky, and hasn't found their people yet, they belong here. About 65% of our families homeschool. The rest use us alongside traditional or charter schools.
Is this a low-demand environment?
Yes. Enrichment courses have no grades and no traditional homework. However, for-credit courses include assignments and letter grades. Cameras always optional. Challenge by choice. Students are never cold-called, never forced to participate, and never penalized for how they choose to engage. For students with PDA, demand avoidance, or anxiety, this is the difference between a program they resist and one they ask to log into.
How much does it cost?
Semester courses start at $624. Summer camps are $149–$169 per camp. Payment plans, sibling discounts, referral credits, and ESA/charter funding accepted. We're an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs.
Will my child actually make friends?
This is the part that surprises parents most. Your child joins a course about something they love and meets 6–8 kids who love it too. Same group all semester (or all week for camps). Parents tell us their children are more connected with this community than with anyone physically around them. 93% of families re-enroll because their kids won't let them stop.
What if it doesn't work?
100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Switch courses, receive a credit, or stop payments. No questions asked. We can offer this because we know what happens when these kids find their people.
What do parents get?
Virtual Coffee & Connect hours every couple of weeks. Regular Expert Talks with leaders like Seth Perler, Debbie Reber, and Dr. Temple Grandin. A Facebook group where families connect and support each other. Progress updates from mentors. And the ability to watch your child's courses anytime (just stay off camera). You're not just enrolling your child. You're joining a village.