Experience

I have varied training and experience to work effectively to meet those challenges. After receiving a PhD in economics from UC Berkeley, I taught economics at Occidental College, and then conducted public health research at UNC Chapel Hill. I decided to make a career change and got a Masters in Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill. I then worked as a guardian for adults, as a hospice social worker, as a student counselor, and now have a private counseling practice. During my years of education and work, I have always been involved in the community. I served on the CHCCS Board, elected from 2005-2009, and appointed from 2010-2011 and in 2019. I served on the board of Women AdvaNCe and on the ArtsCenter board. I have been a long-time volunteer for the Democratic Party and I am a member of the NAACP.

Since my election to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners in 2020, I have taken initiative to address my priorities of education, economic development, environment, and equity.  These include requesting and chairing the Capital Needs Work Group to develop a plan to update our public school facilities. I also co-chaired the School Safety Taskforce, which was established to clarify how the county can support public school safety. In addition to the groups mentioned above, I have served or am serving as a county commissioner representative on the following boards/groups: the Orange County Board of Health; the Orange County Partnership for Young Children; the Solid Waste Advisory Group; the Strategic Communications Work Group; the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro; the Alliance Health Board of Directors; the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group; and the Central Pines Regional Council.