I was born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, but somehow wound up at Oberlin College.

After almost 20 years in Northern Ohio, Baltimore, and then Charlottesville, I've made it back home to the hills outside of Winchester, Virginia.

I worked part time in museums and conservation for over 5 years, working and interning at art and history institutions of all sizes and specializing in books and works on paper. I spent 7 years in college admissions, focusing on access and student experience. I worked in high-end hospitality for 4 years, and was known for my exceptional attention to detail and personability.

Oh, and I've been swing dancing socially (Lindy hop, blues, Balboa, Charleston, and even the occasional two-step) for 20 years now. For about 10 of those years, I managed volunteers and on-site event logistics for local, regional, and national swing dance events.

I care an awful lot about community building, history, clothes mending, decorative arts, lifelong learning, talking and listening, and 20th century country music.