As a career public servant for over 30 years, Iris served in numerous positions ranging from Senior Education Grant Program Manager, Office of Innovation and Improvement, to Operations Management Assistant, Office of General Counsel, while employed by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) in Washington, D.C. Upon accepting an early retirement offer from the USDE in 2009, Iris began the second phase of her career by serving as an acting education program policy director, program evaluation associate, and program design/development contractor. Based on the values instilled by her late parents, Iris has maintained a focus on helping others through her work and by participating in community organizations. Iris currently serves on the Westmoreland County School Board, Virginia School Boards Association's Board of Directors, Riverside Tappahannock Hospital Board of Directors, and the Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School-Time Leadership Council to name a few. She is a former member of the Boards of Directors for Magnet Schools of America, Virginia Twin Rivers Watermen's Association, and the Westmoreland County Museum.