About Me
BACKGROUND
I grew up in Newman Lake, Washington, a small town located just a few miles northeast of Spokane. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, I spent my childhood immersed in the outdoors, developing an appreciation for the environment and the joys of small-town life.
Packing up and moving to Dallas, Texas in 2008 led to a major perspective shift, exposing me to a world vastly different from the one I had known. Adapting to life in a major metropolitan area was both challenging and exciting. I found myself navigating a melting pot of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, which broadened my horizons and fostered a sense of empathy and understanding. This exposure to diversity taught me the value of embracing differences, seeking common ground, and learning from those around me.
As I immersed myself in the Dallas community, I discovered a passion for understanding the complexities of urban life and the unique challenges faced by diverse populations. I became increasingly aware of the societal issues that communities grapple with and developed a strong desire to make a positive impact.
The Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University
EDUCATION
2022-2024
Texas A&M University - Bush School of Government & Public Service
Master of Public Service & Administration
The Bush School experience reshaped my understanding of leadership and administration. I learned the ins and outs of policy, ethics, and management. The courses I took gave me the skills to tackle organizational challenges, make difficult decisions, and communicate effectively. I became adept at analyzing data, solving complex problems, and making data-driven decisions.
In the Capstone Seminars, I put everything into practice by designing a framework for the emergency communication plan. I collaborated with diverse people, conducted research, and developed tailored recommendations for the Texas City Manager’s Association in the Rio Grande Valley. Exploring further coursework opened my eyes to innovative methods for addressing societal and organizational issues. This experience equipped me with a diverse toolkit, comprising essential public service principles, management techniques, analytical skills, and hands-on experience in fostering constructive transformations.
Graduate Coursework at the Bush School
Public Service & Administration
PSAA 601: Foundations of Public Service
PSAA 643: Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector
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Public Management
PSAA 611: Public Policy Formation
PSAA 617: US State & Local Government
PSAA 623: Budgeting in Public Service
PSAA 627: Local Economic Development
PSAA 634: Public Management
PSAA 642: Ethics & Public Policy
PSAA 648: Performance Management
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Quantitative Analysis
PSAA 621: Economic Analysis
PSAA 630: Program Evaluation
BUSH 631: Quantitative Methods in Public Management I
BUSH 632: Quantitative Methods in Public Management II
PSAA 675: Capstone Seminar I - Emergency Communication
PSAA 676: Capstone Seminar II - Emergency Communication
Additional Coursework
PSAA 650: Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship
2019-2022
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Bachelor of Political Science; Pre-Law Minor
Research Certifications
My experience at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi was transformative, shaping my future in a few ways. Taking honors classes, doing research projects, completing internships, and leading extracurricular activities developed my critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. These skills fuel my passion for tackling public service challenges.
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Writing my honors thesis and presenting at conferences showed me how research impacts policies and gave me confidence in my ability to contribute meaningfully to policy decisions. Interning at the Nueces County Attorney's Office and Juvenile Justice Department exposed me to how public safety policies affect real people and families. Leading the Honors Program's social media and grading for multiple departments sharpened my creativity, problem-solving, and analytical skills. I made academic ideas easier to understand for more students and contributed to the learning process. These experiences have fueled my commitment to creating positive change through informed and effective policies, empowering me to contribute meaningfully to discussions and initiatives that create more positive impacts.
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Basic
Human Subjects Research
PERSONALITY INDEX
Have you ever wondered what makes you tick? What lies behind your motivations, communication style, and decision-making process? I recently started exploring more about myself by taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment. This tool shed light on my personality traits and preferences, providing insights into how I interact with the world.
The MBTI delves into four key dimensions of personality:
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Extraversion (E) vs Introversion (I): Do you thrive on external stimulation or prefer to focus inward?
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Sensing (S) vs Intuition (N): Do you trust tangible facts or explore hidden meanings and possibilities?
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Thinking (T) vs Feeling (F): Do you prioritize objective logic or place importance on personal values?
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Judging (J) vs Perceiving (P): Do you crave structure and decisiveness or remain open and adaptable?
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My MBTI results revealed that I am an ENFJ - a dynamic combination of Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Judging.
What if you had a personalized guide to thriving in work and life? The CliftonStrengths assessment provides just that by uncovering your greatest natural talents. Developed by Gallup, this online tool assesses your inherent patterns of thought, feeling and behavior and reveals your top talent themes out of 34 possible strengths, like Achiever, Futuristic, Empathy, and Context. While everyone possesses all 34 to varying degrees, your top themes represent your most powerful innate abilities – the ways in which you naturally excel. So what superpowers did CliftonStrengths uncover in me? My top 5 strengths are:
These talents represent my greatest potential. By intentionally applying them, I can blaze new trails in my career and personal life. Developer and Achiever help me turbocharge a team's performance. Futuristic and Context empower me to paint a vision of the future steeped in wisdom from the past. And Empathy allows me to rally people together around shared goals.