Hometown: Des Plaines, IL

High School: Lincoln Christian High School

College: Nebraska Wesleyan University

Major: Elementary Education

Hobbies: When I'm not in the office, you can usually find me in the stands, serving as the unofficial lead scout and loudest cheerleader for my son's myriad athletic pursuits. To balance out the adrenaline of "Sports Mom" life, I love spending quality time with my family, experimenting in the kitchen, and taking long walks to convince myself I'm a nature person. I'm a firm believer that any day ending with a good meal and a win for the home team is a success.

What sets NWU apart for me is the rare combination of high-caliber ambition and genuine, small-campus heart. It's a place where you aren't just another face in the crowd; you're a name, a story, and a valued part of the pack. There's a distinct "everyone-knows-everyone" warmth here that makes even the biggest academic goals feel like a collective team effort.

As someone who has navigated everything from the organized chaos of a kindergarten classroom to the high-pressure world of corporate HR, my advice is this: learn to be comfortable with the pivot. Your career, and your life, will rarely be a straight line, and that's actually the best part. Use your time at NWU to build your human skills: empathy, resilience, and communication. Whether you end up in a boardroom or a classroom, those are the tools that will make you indispensable. Invest in the people around you. Years from now, you won't remember every exam, but you will still be leaning on the community you built right here.

Since NWU is tucked right into the University Place neighborhood, my favorite secret, which is admittedly the worst-kept secret on campus, is MoJava. It's just a block away and has that perfect small-town coffeehouse feel where you can actually hear yourself think. On campus, I'm a big fan of the umbrella tables on the Acklie patio. They're the perfect spot to catch a breath between meetings and appreciate the vibrant campus energy. Beyond the gates, I love exploring the extensive trail system that winds through Lincoln, and a visit to the Sunken Gardens is a must for the stunning blooms and the sheer beauty of the landscape.