I am a compulsive researcher, an inveterate learner, and an avid writer with a passion for public health. I'm also a technical reader. When faced with a wall of text, I don't just see "terms and conditions" -- I see ideas buried in the dense prose, complex information I can make accessible to everyone.As the Grants Portfolio Lead Coordinator at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, I've got the critical job of ensuring program integrity. From fiscal reviews to site visits, I make sure our grant portfolio stays in line with federal regulations and internal policies.I am also the Founder and Principal Consultant at GrantCraft Consulting. Here, I empower startups and small businesses in the tech sector to navigate the complex world of non-dilutive funding. Specializing in the SBIR and STTR programs, we guide our clients in preparing winning grant proposals and identifying strategic pathways in their target markets.In a previous chapter of my professional life, I taught courses in composition and rhetoric and published articles on American literature in peer-reviewed journals. After earning my PhD in English from Penn State, I pivoted from academia to the world of grant writing and grants management, cutting my teeth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's UNeTech Institute. At UNeTech, I won federal funding from the EDA, SBA, NIH, and more, empowering high-tech Nebraska startups on their way to big market impacts. My commitment to bridging the gap between the private and public sector remains a driving force in my career, where a passion for public health meets a dedication to fostering innovation and facilitating strategic growth.