I grew up in a farming town in rural northeast Ohio, and was raised by my parents, who both taught in the local public school system. I got my undergraduate degree from Ohio University, where I also started volunteering for the Ryan White program in ‘96. That was just as the first effective HIV treatments were coming out, and they were not yet widely available in Ohio – that volunteer position was my entry into both the queer community and to the AIDS epidemic. That same year I traveled to DC with some friends to see what turned out to be the final showing of the full AIDS Quilt on the National Mall – after that showing it became too large to be displayed in its entirety. I will never forget seeing thousands of people silently grieving over the quilt squares.
After college I spent the next decade in NYC working in HIV services at harm-reduction organizations including HousingWorks. I obtained my MPH at Hunter College (CUNY system). I’ve been lucky enough to be “raised” in HIV nonprofit work at organizations that prioritized the knowledge and experience of people living with HIV and in organizations (and a community) that has historically been queer-led. I’ve been privileged my entire professional life to work as my full self, and from the perspective of a community member as opposed to a service provider.
I live in Anchorage on unceded Dena’ina land, and share my home with my 6 year old son and rescued pit bull Helen. My son Isler is a dinosaur lover, autistic, kind, and knew all the words to Trixie Mattel’s cover of Video Games by the time he was 3. Helen knows very little but tries her best. We do a lot of camping and watch a lot of YouTube videos about extinct animals.
Favorite Quote: “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” Marsha P. Johnson
Favorite Place in the Northwest: Southeast Alaska