I am a native of Sioux City, Iowa.  I graduated from West High school in 1983 and went on to further my education at the University of South Dakota where I graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice in 1992. I have worked for the Sanford Center since  1993 with the exception of one year when I worked for a different non-profit agency but it was the work in the community that brought me back to the Sanford Center where I have been ever since.  I have two sons, the oldest lives in Coralville and the youngest lives in Ames where he is a student at Iowa State.  I am a past board member for Indian Youth of America, Native American Child Care Center and I also served on the Governor’s youth race and detention task force.