I am a fundraiser, digital editor, reporter and educator with more than 15 years of experience in news.
I am a passionate supporter of providing valuable news and information while building strong online, mobile and social communities around topics and locations. I enjoy working on challenging and exciting assignments, in an environment that encourages innovation. I care about producing quality work in a fast-paced environment.
Current
I am director of membership and engagement CalMatters with more than 15 years of experience in journalism.
Experience
Previous to my time at CalMatters I was digital editor at the nonprofit newsroom Voice of OC overseeing fundraising, marketing, digital storytelling and product. I also previously taught digital journalism at Chapman University for nine years.
Previously, I worked for eight years at the Orange County Register as a digital and engagement editor, reporter, infographics storyteller and as the Register’s first mobile editor.
I have more than decade of experience in leading efforts to create more connected journalism across devices, social platforms and audience types.
My career of work includes editing, reporting, designing infographics, researching data, developing mobile apps, refining user experiences, managing fundraising efforts, engagement on social media, guiding newsroom groups towards transformation and designing complete marketing roll-outs.
Teaching
In 2015 I was first invited to teach two simultaneous digital journalism courses at Chapman University. In the courses — 211 and 411 — I worked to foster a student-led learning environment. I instructed and guided students on building interactive journalism graphics, writing for the web and building news videos. I taught at Chapman for nine semesters before deciding to focus full-time on my full-time role at CalMatters.
In August 2014 I was invited to lead teach a journalism course at Saddleback College on interactive media design. In the course, students learn the principles of good journalism design, how to create interactive stories and how to plan a project from research to strategy to execution.
Personal
I am a mother to two children, Jack and Anna. I am wife to Grant, and we’ve been together since we first met in 2003. I danced throughout my life from age 4 and taught dance for 10 years until I had to take rest during my high risk pregnancies. I enjoy cooking, baking, riding my Peloton, battling my kids on Mario Kart, going on adventures in our family camper, tending to my California native plants and listening to vinyl records.
Early Experience
Prior to the Register I worked as a reporter, editor and editor-in-chief in my college news publication, the Daily 49er. Simultaneous to my college learning, I worked professionally as a fill-in editor and then editor at two community newspapers in north Orange County.
I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State University, Long Beach.
I started my journalism journey by starting a newspaper in fifth grade – publishing for the open house and back to school nights at Gompers Elementary. Through middle school, high school, college and now my professional career I have kept a passion for providing accurate information to the public through journalism.