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 serve as Director + General Counsel of The Appeal, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom reporting on criminal justice issues in the U.S. From helping people get released from prison to spurring federal investigations, The Appeal’s journalism reflects the power of writing to change how we see, understand, and move through the world. The Appeal is a democratic workplace that began with the premise that creating healthier and more supportive environments leads to better work. As a nonprofit co-founder and leader, I have received national recognition for and speak frequently on organizational innovation and people-centered strategy.

For two decades, I have 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.

My alter ego is a chef, interior designer, and literary savant. I am equal parts city mouse and country mouse, I feed an addiction to crossword puzzles, and I love a good dinner party.

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.