I have spent my entire career focused on expanding educational access; this passion has anchored every career decision I have pursued since I became the first in my family to graduate from college. I am deeply passionate about contributing to a mission-driven organization committed to social good.I joined the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) in March 2019 as a fellow and was promoted within 18 months of joining the team. I currently manage RIDE's $10.9 Million federal grant, RethinkRI. I am the project lead for Rhode Island's statewide enrollment platform, EnrollRI, a first of its kind technology solution. EnrollRI supports equitable access for RI families to the state's All Course Network (ACN), Career and Technical Education program information, adult education and the statewide school choice common application.Previously, I was the lead strategist for expanding the National Math and Science Initiative's private and public partnerships, which included managing a team responsible for diversifying our funding portfolio, expanding our major gifts, private philanthropy partners, and state appropriations in our program regions. My prior role at NMSI focused on cultivating and supporting fee for service of one of NMSI's flagship programs, Laying the Foundation. My transition to NMSI immediately followed almost seven years of leadership at Blackstone Valley Prep, a network of high performing public charter schools in Rhode Island dedicated to putting every scholar on a path to success in college and the world beyond. I supported the network through its busiest growth years by leading the team responsible for securing more than $5MM in growth funding as well as managing all family outreach, communications, human capital and brand development.  I spent the early days of my career teaching high school English in rural North Carolina as a 1997 Teach For America corps member, after which I moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to manage programs, both on staff at TFA and later for a local education fund. Just before moving to Rhode Island, my family was living in South Texas where I served on IDEA Public School's first expansion team.  I have a BS in English from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University, and completed a post master's K-12 principal certificate from Antioch University New England (AUNE).