Service
Service is central to my work as a public health leader. Throughout my career, I have sought opportunities to strengthen communities, advance public health, and support others' growth through leadership, mentorship, and collaboration. Whether serving on national boards, guiding local coalitions, or engaging directly with community partners, service is both a responsibility and a privilege, and an essential way to translate values into action and create lasting impact.
Professional Service
I contribute to advancing public health at the national, state, and local levels. At the national level, I served six years representing Region 8 on the Board of Directors for the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) before being elected Vice President in July 2026. As Vice President and a member of NACCHO's Executive Committee, I help guide organizational strategy, governance, and priorities while advancing the collective voice of local health departments nationwide. As the first North Dakotan and representative from Region 8 to serve in this role, I bring the perspectives and challenges of rural, frontier, and mid-sized communities to national discussions.
My professional service also includes leadership with the North Dakota Public Health Association (NDPHA), where I served in progressively responsible roles including Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, President Elect, President and Immediate Past President. Through these roles I contributed to organizational governance, strategic priorities, workforce development and advocacy for public health across North Dakota. I also remain actively engaged with North Dakota State Association of City and County Health Officials (ND SACCHO), contributing to collaboration and advocacy among local public health leaders across the state.
Community Service
My commitment to community service includes local board leadership and governance with organizations working to improve health and access to care in North Dakota. Community service means working alongside partners to build healthier, stronger, and more resilient systems. I have served in
In Bismarck, I have led collaborative efforts to address behavioral health, addiction, and homelessness. I actively participate in coalitions and task forces focused on affordable housing, mental health, and access to health care, ensuring diverse voices are included in decision-making. Through outreach campaigns and public speaking engagements, I aim to empower communities with knowledge while building trust and collaboration.
Academic Service
Service also extends to my commitment to developing the next generation of public health professionals. I mentor students and early-career practitioners, providing guidance on leadership, practice, and advocacy. As a speaker at national conferences, such as NACCHO 360, and through guest lectures at North Dakota universities, I share lessons from the field to help bridge academic learning with the realities of public health practice. Through these efforts, I aim to strengthen the workforce and contribute to a stronger connection between scholarship, leadership, and applied practice.
This commitment has been recognized through induction into the Gamma Omicron Chapter of Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, along with honors including Excellence in Instruction: Healthcare Leader Award (2023) from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.