Biography

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I was born and raised around the Puget Sound. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Seattle University in 2001, and promptly began working at a motorcycle shop. After several years of putting my degree to good use, the inevitable happened; I wrecked on my bike.

Three dozen surgeries, two months in the hospital, and another month in a nursing home is all it took for me to realize I should consider a different career path. 

I took a job as a mental health specialist in an involuntary, inpatient psychiatric hospital. My experience there was incomparable; it opened my eyes.  I was constantly confronted by the inequities and disparities in health care. 

I decided to dedicate my life to the service of others, and came to the University of Washington to pursue a future in nursing. 

I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009, and I am now a Registered Nurse.  

I earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice in Community Health Nursing in 2012.  I am now embarking on my career of service and learning. 

I am an alumni fellow of the Afya Bora Consortium for Global Health Leadership; I practiced in Botswana, Kenya, and Uganda with an interdisciplinary and international team of health experts.  

As clinical assistant professor at University of Washington, I worked locally and globally to improve health services.

I am currently the Nursing Director at Columbia Valley Community Health, a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC), providing functional oversight to nurses and medical assistants across 4 clinics throughout the greater Wenatchee and Chelan areas.

My interests include:

    hiking, camping, & fishing 

    farming & gardening

    auto mechanics

    grilling & cooking

    learning languages

    homebrewing & cidery

    woodworking

    tinkering