About me...
A nurse, educator and caregiver: I've spent my entire career helping people and solving problems. I'm running for State Representative to close the gaps in healthcare, strengthen education and expand economic opportunity – and to make government work for all of us.
Rooted in Service
I grew up in rural Mississippi. My parents, born in Oklahoma, dedicated their lives to helping others. My father served three tours of duty in Vietnam in the U.S. Navy before becoming a public school teacher, and my mother spent her youth working in the fields before becoming a laboratory technician working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 32 years, helping to keep our food supply safe.
Together, they taught me the value of hard work and a good education, so from a very young age, I worked to pay for my own clothes and school supplies – and gained an understanding of what it means to budget, preserve and value every opportunity in life. They also taught me about service to others and to our neighbors, and how ordinary people working together can change lives and do extraordinary things to help their communities thrive.
Champion for Education
For more than a decade, I have taught English as a Second Language and Linguistics at Oakland University, SUNY Plattsburgh in New York and at Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School. I have mentored first-generation students, immigrants and refugees who balance multiple jobs while taking care of their families, while learning a new language and new cultures simultaneously.
They work hard and sacrifice, and their determination inspires me and inspires my commitment to ensure that EVERY student has a fair chance to succeed, and that will open the doors to high-quality schools and affordable college pathways.
A Career of Care
When the pandemic shut down international programs and closed borders, I saw how essential healthcare workers are to every community. Determined to be part of the solution, I trained as a nurse and entered oncology care, supporting patients and families through some of their most difficult days. This experience strengthened my resolve to fight for affordable, patient-focused healthcare.
Community Advocate
At home, I have been a longtime caregiver for my mother, who has survived multiple cancer diagnoses. I understand the worry, exhaustion and financial strain families face in moments of crisis. I am completing my PhD in nursing, volunteering with cancer patients, and helping non-native English speakers succeed in workforce training to strengthen our community every day.
Ready to Serve
I love Rochester Hills, where I volunteer with local organizations, support neighbors in need, and work to make sure no one is left behind. I believe every family deserves quality healthcare, strong schools, and an economy that works for all of us. I am running to put people, not politics, first.
Join me in building a Michigan where no one is left behind. Donate, volunteer and let’s get to work together.
