I have lived a lot of lives. I have been a farmer in the Southwest, a community program officer in Kenya, an advocate in Washington, D.C., and an attorney and organizer in Los Angeles. The throughline? A desire to address society’s biggest social problems and improve the systems, policies, and institutions that impact people’s lives.

Currently, I leads The Appeal, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom reporting on criminal justice issues in the U.S. As Director and General Counsel, I am particularly proud of the newsroom’s impact—from helping people get released from prison, to informing proposed legislation, to spurring federal and state investigations, The Appeal’s journalism reflects the power of writing to change how we see, understand, and move through the world.

For two decades, I have built and led campaigns that move the needle on social and political issues. I built incoming-producing urban gardens in Albuquerque and addressed food insecurity in Kenya through a training program for local farmers. I oversaw statewide voter protection programs and led a movement for law schools to cancel classes on election day. I steered a nationwide effort to appoint more public defenders and public interest lawyers to the federal bench. My unique approach to projects big and small blends narrative, advocacy, legal, and organizing strategies to maximize efficacy and impact.

I have received national recognition for building and leading innovative workplaces that start from the belief that creating healthier and more supportive environments leads to better work and I frequently share my expertise at conferences, workshops, and universities.

My alter ego is an architect, stylist, or innkeeper. I am equal parts city mouse and country mouse, I feed an addiction to crossword puzzles, and I sometimes consider myself an avid reader.

I graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and hold a degree in philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz. I currently reside in the middle of the California desert.