A Little Bit More About Me…

I have a wide range of life experience! Growing up, my parents were “hippies” who raised me to value issues of social justice with a commitment to service to others and a tolerance for our differences, whether they be political, social, sexual, religious, or otherwise.

As a young professional, I worked as a waitress, a nanny, a medical social worker, and a community volunteer. Later in life, I was a stay at home mom and then a mom who worked full time. I spent over 10 years at Valparaiso University as a Lecturer in the Freshman Core Seminar, and also spent time as a middle school tutor, a yoga teacher, a community organizer, and a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana.

I’ve had times in my life where I’ve been happy and content, and times when I’ve been stressed out, over-committed, spread thin, and ready to break down. I’ve had years where I’ve felt healthy and vibrant and years where I suffered from digestive issues and Lyme Disease.

After 23 years of marriage, I went through an unexpected divorce that sent me cycling through grief, fear, and heartbreak. Sometimes there is no better teacher than experience. I feel grateful for all the life lessons that helped me get here… in a position to help and heal others.