I am a first generation Olympian who moved to Olympia in 2005. Since then, my husband and I have been able to truly settle here, building community and connections, and are now raising our own family in the northeast neighborhood.
I was raised in a small, rural town in southern Oregon surrounded by lakes, rivers, and all the outdoor beauty the high desert has to offer. I left Oregon to attend college in Helena, Montana. Montana is beautiful, but I always missed the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
After college, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lesotho, a small country in sub-Saharan Africa. I lived in a small village in the western part of the country and worked at the local elementary school as a Primary Resource Teacher, teaching English lessons and supporting new teachers. I also met my husband, a fellow volunteer named Brian. This experience changed my life in every possible way, and the memories from my time there are incredibly precious to me.
Following the Peace Corps, and after hearing friends rave about it, Brian and I decided to return to the Pacific NW and make our home in Olympia. We have now been married for nearly 20 years and can’t imagine raising our two young kids anywhere but here.
In my day job I am the Vice President for Advancement at SPSCC. This role has allowed me to be highly engaged with regional partners in our city and county governments, area non-profit organizations, economic and business development organizations, employers of all sizes, regional Tribal partners, and many wonderful individuals throughout Olympia.
I was appointed to the Olympia City Council, position 5, in January 2025. I am running to retain the position so I can continue to serve this City that means so much to me.