As a wildlife biologist turned social scientist and nonprofit leader, I am passionate about inspiring us to love — to love ourselves, one another, and our world.

With a heart for service, I have served in the nonprofit sector for over two decades, stewarding community and environmental causes including: cofounded a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; cofounded a recycling center and job program to train and employ unhoused humans; founded a climate change initiative, which convened interfaith, Indigenous, youth, and scientific leaders to build bridges of understanding across communities.

Today, I am writing Surrender on the Mountain: A Memoir About Trauma, Truth, and Above All, Love. The book is based on my trauma recovery from child sexual abuse, loss, and betrayal.

For nearly four decades, I (barely) survived life with the crippling effects of self-hate. Today, I am living a life of love, built on this foundational truth — I AM WORTHY! This is the primary purpose behind the book, to tell readers that loving yourself is possible. The other, we live in world fluent in the language of trauma and hate. Surrender will offer readers accessible language rooted in recovery and love based on my lived experience of transforming trauma into truth.

I live on a hillside in Homer, Alaska overlooking Tikahtnu (Lower Cook Inlet) with my cheerleader husband Shane and Kenzie, the bestest canine companion and coworker.