As a policy associate, I support the Center’s work to engage rural communities and advocate for policies that sustain a strong rural America. My primary focus is on agriculture and conservation policy in Iowa, where I engage with farmers and partners to find solutions that work for them.

When I look back on my childhood, I am not surprised to find myself working to support farmers and rural communities. I grew up in small-town Iowa, where we would walk to the local ice cream shop in the summer and sled down the high school hill in the winter. We also took frequent visits to my family’s farm, where I shadowed my grandfather, learning bits and pieces about agriculture along the way. His official profession was in soil conservation, which paired nicely with his farming roots. I admired my grandpa’s work so much that I always chose him to be my career day special guest. He showed me the important role farmers play in stewarding their land, and the many opportunities and barriers that farmers experience when considering conservation.

Inspired by that knowledge, I have prioritized agriculture and conservation in both my personal and professional life. During my time at the University of Iowa, I framed my coursework around the intersection of my passions and made great memories during internships working on prairie restoration and building fences for a bison herd. Since graduating in 2022, I have held positions that engaged farmers and landowners in watershed improvement, promoted agricultural health and safety practices, and researched environmental health concerns in Midwest communities.

I live in Coralville, Iowa, where I enjoy testing new recipes, beating my fiancé in golf, and going for long walks on the local trail system. Any chance I get, I try to visit my friends and family who are spread around rural Iowa. My travels continue to feed my soul and ground my work in real experiences and relationships.

Q&A

What is your dream vacation spot? 

A bucket list trip of mine is to paddle from the headwaters of the Mississippi River all the way down to where it empties into the Gulf. I am nowhere near prepared, mentally or physically, for an expedition of that magnitude, but it is fun to dream!

What's your favorite holiday, and why? 

Labor Day. Every year, my family does a Labor Day seafood boil at our cabin, and it is one of my favorite traditions—we even have shirts! I also love that it is on a Monday and gives me a three-day weekend.

What was your favorite childhood activity? 

Playing outside with my neighbors. I grew up on a great cul-de-sac with lots of other kids to play with. We would play hide and seek tag with the highway as our only real boundary, and in the summer, our parents would put up a giant inflatable waterslide for us right in the middle of the circle.