| My husband Eric, dog Maeby and I proudly call Candler home. We spend our free time taking walks at the local park, riding bikes in and around the county, and admiring Mt. Pisgah every time we look up. I have two siblings - a twin sister Rachel, who teaches high school in Wake Forest, and my older brother Nick who lives, works, and plays music in the Triangle area.
I owe much of what I am and what I've achieved to the great state of North Carolina. I want to use my knowledge, experience, work ethic, and privilege to give back to the people who live and work in this beautiful region. Buncombe County and its mountains, our home, deserve a strong voice in Raleigh.
I am proud to be a lifelong member of the North Carolina public education system, as both a student and an educator. I have dedicated both my working life and free time to serving the people of Buncombe County and North Carolina. I was raised in Wake County and have lived in Buncombe County for over 14 years, starting with my attendance at the University of North Carolina Asheville as a recipient of the NC Teaching Fellows scholarship. After earning my bachelor's degree in Sociology and my Social Studies and Special Education teaching licenses, I taught for 6 years in Buncombe County Schools, including Erwin High School and Middle College.
Those years of teaching Occupational Skills, American History, and Civics made me want to learn more about my students' experiences outside of the classroom, as well as the mechanisms of how our government actually serves our students and communities. This led to my enrollment in Western Carolina University's Masters in Public Affairs program. The MPA, a degree which is most commonly sought by city and county managers and administration, provided opportunities for policy research, data analysis, budget experience, and an internship in a neighboring county manager's office. After graduation, I returned to my alma mater, UNC Asheville, to serve as Assistant Director of Admission. There, I work to recruit and counsel incoming transfer and military/veteran students, as well as strengthen the relationship and pipeline between North Carolina community colleges and the university.
Throughout my years working in the public education system, I have also been deeply involved in local political and community work. I have served in various roles mainly focused on voter education and information. I have led trainings on voter registration and organized multiple candidate forums in various parts of the county, working to improve access to the civic process. |