Degree(s): BJ ’87

Whereabouts: Missouri

What do you do?

I have supported education advocacy for more than 20 years, the last four as the Vice President of Aligned (formerly the Alliance for Childhood Education), where I oversee education policy and legislation in Missouri. I’m a strong advocate for early childhood education and workforce development and am keenly interested in advancing public policies that lead to economic growth. I also write and edit a leading newsletter for Aligned that covers education policy for Missouri and Kansas, and garners statewide attention from legislators, business professionals and civic leaders.

In 2024, my advocacy work resulted in the inclusion of language into a sweeping education reform bill that doubled the state investment in Pre-K and the creation of a differentiated pay program to address teacher recruitment and retention in Missouri – important work I helped Aligned see to fruition after 10 years of advocacy work. In the past eight years, Aligned’s advocacy has contributed to a combined total of $601 million appropriated investment in pre-K funding for Missouri.

Through my work, I’m addressing statewide workforce challenges that will significantly impact our children and the regional workforce of tomorrow.

How did you get your job?

I came to Missouri as a fourth-generation Californian to study journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Despite not following my dream of being a reporter, I’ve put my journalism degree to good use as a writer and leveraged it into a career in public policy. My big break came in 2008 when a politician asked me to join his staff after working on a campaign. That led to a job in the Missouri Capitol, an opportunity to pursue my Master’s in Public Policy Administration. After graduating, a colleague hired me to help with public policy research, and through that, I learned that Missouri has a dismal record in early education investment. My colleague and I decided that needed to change, and Aligned saw our work and brought me on board to implement the organization’s policy agenda.

What is the best professional lesson you learned at the J-School?

No one wants to hear your excuses. When you have a deadline, it’s your responsibility to meet it.

What advice do you have for current students?

It’s okay to be inspired by others, but your biggest contribution to the world will be original thoughts and polished projects.

What is your favorite J-School memory?

Showing up at KOMU with no idea of where the day would take me; the producer handing me an assignment and camera equipment and then heading out to find the story, interview a subject, and then feeling that enormous adrenaline rush as I raced back to the studio to write, edit and hand over my work with maybe just minutes to spare.