I'm originally from the Midwest, but chose to study psychology and art at the UO because I was drawn to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest! Go Ducks! I also taught ESL for five years in Japan and Thailand. I then earned my master’s degree in social work at PSU, where I focused on working with children and adolescents in schools.  I've worked as both a school social worker and clinical social worker for the past decade plus. I've had opportunities to collaborate with adolescents and families in schools as well as part of a community crisis response. I'm passionate about supporting schools with mental health education, trauma-informed practices, and social emotional learning implementation in classrooms. My goal as a school social worker is to inspire students to grow, enjoy life, and be healthy, self-reliant and well-rounded individuals.