After graduating from Jenison High School, I began attending Grand Rapids Community College, where I took my interest in business and applied it to socio-economic issues, studying how to best implement living wage policies in a way that doesn't lead to inflation or undue burdens on businesses. I graduated with honors with an Associate's in Business Administration and a Certificate of Retail Management.   

I left home at 17 due to then-disagreements over my sexual orientation, but by the time I began college, the relationship between my parents and I had progressed, and they were paying for my health insurance. Although I covered almost all other expenses, current federal financial aid policy mandates your parent's income is included in the calculation for grants and loans unless you are completely estranged, regardless of if you are an independent for tax purposes. On paper, my resources were too substantial to qualify for grants or scholarships, but too low to afford college outright. Therefore, I attended community college in part due to the need to pull out student loans and the desire to keep my balance as low as possible. This is yet another way middle-income families are harmed by current policy, saddling us with debt in order to obtain a ticket to opportunity. Community college also allowed me the flexibility in scheduling to work part-time to help afford my living expenses, while also gaining experience in the workforce. While at GRCC, I obtained a position at LBrands, running new-concept stores for Bath & Body Works and White Barn Candle Company. 

I then transferred to Ferris State University, where I graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration, and studied affordable housing, and policies that help to incentive development and increase supply, lowering housing costs without burdening businesses or stifling development. 

After some time off, I am now completing my second year of my Juris Doctorate at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where I have focused my studies on business, education, and human rights law. 

In 2022, Governor Whitmer appointed me to the State Board of Nursing, where I then went through the Senate consent process during a Republican-led Senate. My seat represents the general public, and our duty is to protect the public health and welfare through enforcement of the Michigan Public Health Code and our rules and regulations in regard to nursing licensure. I also serve on the Education Subcommittee, overseeing quality and compliance for nursing education programs, on the Rules Subcommittee, where we draft updates to our rules and regulations, and as an alternate on the Disciplinary Subcommittee, where we oversee nursing disciplinary issues and work to remedy infractions and restore nurses to safe practice. 

Additionally, I serve on the Michigan HIV/AIDS Council and on the Policy & Advocacy Subcommittee, working to reduce stigma, prevent the spread of HIV, and to connect those living with HIV/AIDS to care, while advocating for science-based best practices in state policy in handling this epidemic for the benefit of all populations. 

I serve as a consultant on a Medicaid Quality Improvement Project at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, assisting in contract compliance for Medicaid Plans that are obligated to improve outcomes for those living with HIV/AIDS who are also on Medicaid. 

In the Spring of 2022, I was asked to join the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan, where I later joined the chapter's board as a voting member, where I now serve as Secretary and as Chairperson of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. 

In 2025, I served on the Grant Review Committees for both Corewell and Trinity Health, scoring and allocating funding to health equity projects in Kent County. 

I am educated, experienced, and ready for this position.