My whole family, going back four or five generations on each side, has lived, served, and farmed in the Willamette Valley. I was born and raised in Newberg, and my family still farms hazelnuts and hops all over the valley. After earning my Business degree from the University of Oregon, my first jobs out of college were in the nursery industry, where I made lifelong friends working closely with hazelnut growers and serving as a Board Member of the Oregon Association of Nurseries Willamette Chapter. During the pandemic, in addition to practicing law remotely, I took a part-time job at WillaKenzie Estate winery in Yamhill. It was a great way to meet more people in the wine industry and more folks from this community. I have since started working at J. Christopher Wines in Newberg, managing their events. I have truly enjoyed the chance to reconnect to the agriculture industry, as well as the opportunity to learn about another important industry in our community. I have also been a lifelong volunteer at the St. Paul Rodeo - an organization my great-grandfather started over 85 years ago and my father currently serves as President.

My agricultural and close-knit family background influences all my positions. I will always seek the solutions that benefit people and allow us to continue to live, work, and enjoy this beautiful valley.

I am a creative problem solver. During my time in the agricultural industry, I became intimately aware of the challenges facing our farmers, workers, and the environment. I became a lawyer to fight for and find solutions to these challenges. My first legal job was as a Tribal Advocate on the Fort Belknap reservation in Montana, where I assisted the public defender, represented survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and helped clients with land use issues. I learned from my time on the reservation that there are many structural and institutional barriers to achieving justice. I’ve worked since to address these injustices, at both the national and international level. I’ve worked for an international pro bono law firm that represented clients working for peace in Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. I have experience working with US Congress, as well as with the European Union Parliament, where I helped negotiate legislation as part of the Committee on Legal Affairs. I have helped negotiate treaty provisions with representatives from all over the world.

My experiences as a lawyer make me better able to write effective, targeted legislation. My experiences with negotiating and working with people from all different backgrounds and viewpoints will enable me to work effectively with the other members of the House to pass legislation that benefits District 24.

One of the greatest honors of my life so far has been serving as an educator. I am lucky enough to teach at my former law school, American University in Washington, D.C. , where I get to work, teach, and learn from some of the brightest young legal minds in the country. Education has always been incredibly important to me. Through teaching international law, I’ve also had the pleasure of working with students from all over the world and with all different backgrounds. I am constantly inspired by the vision and creativity these students have.

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon, a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from American University, and a law degree from American University. I also believe in continuing education: I have taken Spanish classes through Chemeketa to improve my language skills and am working on a Certificate on Health Inequity & Care through American University.

I believe empowering young people by investing in them and their education is critical for a healthy democracy. As your Representative, I would focus on promoting education and prioritizing students.

Along with a strong work ethic, my family instilled in me the belief that everyone should give back to their community, and both hard work and community service have always been major themes in my life. I started volunteering with my parents’ church, St. Peter’s in Newberg, when I was in middle school. Throughout high school, college, and beyond I volunteered at the St Paul Rodeo, the Oregon Special Olympics, and the Newberg Old Fashioned Days festival. My 11-month AmeriCorps service term assisting low-income Montanans, only reinforced the importance of service to others for me. Since I’ve lived in McMinnville, I’ve also focused on service. I volunteer every Monday morning to prepare meals for Meals on Wheels. I serve as the Legal Services Liaison at YCAP, preparing legal primers on issues like powers of attorney and protections from eviction. I also serve as a member of the McMinnville Budget Committee and recently joined the Board of Encompass Yamhill Valley, which seeks to serve and find solutions for our houseless neighbors.

As your next Representative, I will bring my dedication to service and proven work ethic to Salem, where I will work tirelessly to find solutions for the people of this District.