Hometown: Rochester, IL (now lives in Bloomington, IL)

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Eureka College, B.A. Political Science and History

Graduate Institution and Major: Illinois State University, M.S. Political Science (public service emphasis)

Relevant Professional Experience: Development and Communications Director for Bloomington Salvation Army (2.5 years), Illinois State University (12 years) – Currently serve as the Assistant Director for Service Learning in the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning.  Previous positions include: Community Service Specialist, Off-Campus Services Coordinator, Leadership and Community Connections Coordinator.

Research Interests: Campus-community partnerships and collaborative problem solving, town/gown relations

Honors and Awards: McLean County 20 Under 40, Honorary Citizen and Goodwill Ambassador for Asahikawa, Japan, Illinois State University Division of Student Affairs Innovation By A Team Award – Neighborhood Action Team: Three-Tiered Intervention Strategies to Address Neighborhood Concerns, Break Away (national alternative breaks organization) Staff Member of the Year,

Professional Affiliations: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), NASPA Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) Lead Initiative, International Association of Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE), International Town Gown Association, Community-Campus Partnerships for Health

Volunteer Activities:  Former Community Health Care Clinic board member, former nine-year member of the Bloomington-Normal Japanese Sister Cities Commission, Occasional StrengthsQuest volunteer facilitator for community groups.