Born in Reno and raised in a loving, politically engaged home in Sparks, Nevada, she grew up watching her parents attend community meetings and volunteer on local projects. They instilled in her a passion for public service.
She earned her bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University’s George H.W. Bush School of Public Policy. Missing the mountains and western spirit of home, she returned to northern Nevada after graduation.
She completed a master’s degree in public administration and public policy at the University of Nevada and has spent over a decade in municipal service.
Her professional experience also includes work in the private sector, including at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and as executive director of the nonprofit organization Kids & Horses.
She lives in the Old Southwest with her husband, Matthew Tuma, and their daughter, Zora, who was born in 2021. As a family, they enjoy biking, camping, and all things arts and culture.
