Describe any previous branch positions and years you served.
My branch is Beach Cities Branch:
- Tech Trek School Coordinator 2016 – 2019
- Tech Trek Parent Orientation 2019
- K-Bug Advisor
- Women in Transition Discussion Group
Describe any AAUW California positions and years you served.
- Tech Trek Named Co-Camp Director UC San Diego 2023
- Tech Trek Virtual Leadership Team 2022
- Tech Trek Virtual Camp Assistant Director 2021
- Teck Trek Dorm Mom Whittier Camp 2019
Talk about any AAUW California conventions you attended in the last five years.
I have not attended yet but am excited to attend this year.
Talk about any pertinent community activities or connections and their corresponding dates.
- South Bay Children’s Health Center Board of Directors 2019 – present
- Walk to End Alzheimer’s Steering Committee South Bay Beach Cities 2018-1019
- Founded Prairie Care Fund in Minneapolis (non-profit for children’s mental health) President Board of Directors Prairie Care Fund 2016- 2019
- Currently Ex-officio Board Member Board of Governors Prairie Care Hospitals and Clinics 2015-2018
- Directed various Minnesota Youth Camps 10 years
- Leadership committee International Youth Forum 4 years
- International Youth Service Award World Conference/Community of Christ 1998
Talk about any AAUW National conventions you have attended.
None.
Describe any AAUW National positions and years you served.
None.
Describe your employment/professional experience, including current employment.
- Teacher South Washington County Schools (Minnesota) 1988-2016
- Woodbury High School Advanced Placement English/Composition
- State Advisor Minnesota Association of Honor Societies 2005-2007
- National Honor Society Advisor 2002-2007
- Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year (Woodbury, MN) 2004
- Minnesota Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist 2002
- Minnesota House of Representatives 2006 – 2010 (two terms) Committees: Ways and Means Vice Chair, Education Finance, Education Policy, Transportation Finance, Transportation Policy (Vice Chair) Public Health
- Legislator of the Year, Minnesota School Board Association 2010
Are you available to visit branches statewide?
YES
Describe any other special skills or experience.
MFA (Master of Fine Arts) Writing. Over the years I have been asked to write numerous articles for various publications. Additionally, I wrote two Study Texts published for use at summer camps. I have won awards as a poet and essayist. Public Speaking. I have served on the Speaker’s Bureau for two organizations in the Twin Cities giving dozens of presentations to various community groups. I was selected twice by high school seniors to give their graduation honor faculty speech. I have created promotional and marketing materials for camps and boards, as well as Tech Trek Virtual Camp.
Give your reasons for running for this office.
Upon retirement from an amazing career as a teacher, legislator, and non-profit board president, I left Minnesota searching for a way to make this next chapter of my life meaningful. I soon found AAUW (or it found me). Since 2016, my passion became Tech Trek. Working alongside women in my branch, at camps (both residential and virtual), and now, hopefully, on the state level, I want to continue to find avenues that enrich the lives of girls and their families. I want to bring my skills as a leader to the state board of directors to broaden our outreach across California.