I focus on connecting communities with opportunities and resources that support their growth and development. Whether I’m promoting policy priorities, sharing funding opportunities, or helping communities tackle challenges, I enjoy the variety of my work.
My role lets me connect with people, whether it’s the Center team or the people I meet on the job. I also get to spend a lot of time researching and writing. I enjoy putting out information that might benefit communities in Nebraska, information that may not have been found if we hadn’t shared it.
Throughout my career, I’ve found that I thrive in roles that require engagement, problem-solving, and relationship building. I spent several years working for Wayne State College, where I was heavily involved in student activities and events. In another role, I worked for a nonprofit supporting families of preschool students, and I conducted vision and hearing screenings, provided health information, and kept families informed about resources. I love learning, meeting new people, and being involved in work that positively affects the community.
Rural America shaped who I am and taught me the value of hard work and community. I grew up on a farm in rural Nebraska, where my dad was always working with cattle or crops, and my mom worked in the city office after we went to school. My parents worked hard and expected the same from us, emphasizing the importance of school, sports, and being part of a team.
Going to school in a small town offered me the opportunity to ride bikes with friends, walk around town safely, and be in small classes where we knew our teachers well. We were encouraged to take on high school jobs and push ourselves academically. Rural communities are places where people value community, family, and resilience—and they take care of their neighbors.
I love spending time outside, whether it is going for a walk, kayaking on rivers, or boating on lakes. My family and I truly enjoy being on the water and find it relaxing. Family is incredibly important to me. I met my husband while we were both attending Wayne State College, and we’re grateful to raise our family close to our parents. We love supporting our children, attending every sports, speech, and school event we can.
Q&A
What's one piece of advice you wish you could give to your younger self?
Trust more, be patient, and enjoy the process. Things tend to work out in ways you might never have expected.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose, and why?
If I could live anywhere in the world, I would want to live somewhere with lakes, rivers, or even a coastline so I could enjoy boating, kayaking, and being outdoors. It would be great to live in a place that has warmer weather to extend the time I could be on water, but still experience all four seasons. I especially love fall.
What's something surprising about you that most people don't know?
Something surprising about me is that I love plants—picking them out, decorating the house with them, planting them in the garden—but I’m not the best at keeping them alive. I have a knack for overwatering, underwatering, or picking the wrong spot for them. I keep trying and like to think I am improving!
