I was born and raised in Southern California as the middle of three siblings in a family with mid-western, Scandinavian, and Germanic roots. I have been married for over 20 years and live with my husband and two school-aged children who attend public schools in Seattle. I have not followed a particular religious practice, though I have found spirituality and interconnectedness in Eastern philosophies, poetry, nature, and a practice of mindfulness.

I have enjoyed a lifetime of cultivating awareness, learning, and love of other cultures. An early 20’s experience as a Peace Corps volunteer shaped my still evolving passion and accountability to locally owned, and culturally relevant community development and leadership – in other words, I believe that change is best led by the people closest to and most affected by the problem.

I am fluent (though rusty!) in Spanish and conversant in Solomon Pijin and have had the honor of living, studying and working in Los Angeles, Argentina, Boston, Spain, Seattle, Kenya, and Burma/Myanmar.

While justice has been a life-long value, I have gained more depth of consciousness of my implicit biases and socially conditioned and internalized white supremacy in the last decade. I am called on a journey of developing and being accountable for anti-racist skills and practices out of love for humanity and justice. I aim to live and work in alignment with my personal values of connection, integrity, and humility.

In my free time, I can be found playing outside (in the snow or sun), gardening, enjoying family and friends, practicing mindfulness, making family photo albums, volunteering in the community, and running (to keep up with my kids!)