Lincoln, Nebraska, is where I currently live, but I’ll always consider the rural Sandhills my home. I grew up on cattle ranches near Bassett, attended a two-room country schoolhouse until third grade, and stayed in the area until I graduated and moved to Lincoln. Since then, I’ve lived in California and Seattle, but continued to find my way back to doing good work here in Nebraska.
I’ve always been passionate about rural communities, and I was hooked on the Center’s mission since I learned about the work. The Center’s intentional values for rural communities deepened the pride I have for being raised rural, so really it was just a matter of time before I found myself working here.
In some form or another, I’ve spent the past 15 years working in local food, agriculture, sustainability, and civic engagement, mostly in the nonprofit field. I believe that when we work from a place of shared values, it shifts the power away from political ideology to uniting on principles. That belief has guided my approach to community building and is why I thrive working in rural communities—building bridges of mutual respect for the common good.
I’m a bird nerd, nature explorer, and a true lover of Nebraska’s landscapes including the salt marshes around Lincoln, the Sandhills, and our riverways. Talk to me about your favorite Nebraska adventures and I’ll share what I know about hidden waterfalls on the Niobrara and best places to catch a full moonrise.
