Current graduate student and lifelong learner. My experiences as a mental health nurse, and witnessing the gaps in access drove me to learn how I can use policy as a tool to fill those gaps. I am passionate about intentionality with DEIA, and ground my advocacy in these principles. Evidence-informed decision-making serves as my foundation for clinical practice and policy analysis, with skills in research design, literature review and quantitative analysis. I thrive when I get to problem-solve and de-escalate a high-stress situation through compassion and collaboration. There are many similarities between the nursing and policy worlds - at the core of both is adaptable communication and connection. I find joy in working with others and for others, knowing when to lead, but more importantly, when to follow. Currently bridging a passion for mental health resource access and public policy through a graduate research project titled “Understanding the Cycle of Homelessness and Repeat Acute Psychiatric Service Utilization.”