EXPERIENCE
ACLU of the District of Columbia (ACLU-DC), Washington, D.C. April 2022 – Present
Policy Counsel
- Serves as a policy expert and advocate on civil rights and civil liberties issues in front of the D.C. Council, their staff, the Mayor’s office, and administrative agencies to advance ACLU-DC’s strategic issue areas
- Analyze and track legislation, draft legislative fixes, and prepare and deliver testimony and talking points on ACLU issues
- Prepares policy materials in collaboration with other department staff, including legislative testimony, action alerts, talking points, issue briefs, reports, and op-eds
Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Washington, D.C. January 2021 – April 2022
Policy Counsel
- Provided legal support and guidance to the policy team while handling an issue portfolio of whistleblower reform, FOIA, court access, and OLC transparency. Organized advocacy campaigns on Capitol Hill based on policy recommendations.
- Drafted model legislative text, hearing questions, blog posts, oversight letters, agency public comments, congressional testimony, op-eds, and other articles across a broad range of good government policy areas
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Washington, D.C. September 2018 – January 2021
Policy Analyst (RCFP) & Coalition Director (NMOG)
- Conducted legal analysis on pending legislation to establish RCFP policy and advocacy priorities,
including court access, freedom of information laws, and media source protection laws - Led federal advocacy efforts and cultivated relationships with bipartisan elected officials for RCFP and the News Media for Open Government (NMOG) coalition, comprised of 10 national press freedom groups
EDUCATION
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH May 2017
J.D. (Moritz College of Law); M.A. in Public Policy and Management (John Glenn College of Public Affairs)
Honors: Michael E. Moritz Leadership Award in Law, 2015–2016 (highest leadership award for a Moritz student)
Publications: Legal Discrimination: Bridging the Title VII Gap for Transgender Employees, 77 Ohio St. L.J. 1109 (2016); License to Discriminate: A Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of State LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Laws in Employment (2017) [Master’s Thesis]
Activities: Ohio State Law Journal (law review), Technology Editor; American Constitution Society, President; Black Law Students Association, Parliamentarian (communications and social media director)
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH May 2014
B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science, summa cum laude
Honors: Leslie H. Cochran University Scholars Program (full-tuition academic scholarship); YSU Pin Award Recipient, 2014 (highest leadership award for an undergraduate student)
Activities: Youngstown State University Board of Trustees, Student Trustee (appointed by Governor John R. Kasich); Delta Zeta Sorority, President; Youngstown State University Homecoming Queen, 2013
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The Ohio State University Alumni Association September 2021 – Present
Member, Board of Directors (management and oversight of OSUAA as a 501(c)(3) organization)
- Committee Assignments (2021-2022): Finance and Investment; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Greater Washington, D.C. August 2018 – Present
President, July 2022 – Present; Vice-President, May 2020 – July 2022; Game Day Chair, May 2018 – July 2022
- Supervises a board of 12 members through monthly meetings and leads the club in biennial strategic planning discussions
- Managed logistics for staffing six Game Day locations and raised over $30,000 for student scholarships over three seasons
D.C. Abortion Fund Board October 2022 – Present
At-Large Member
INTERESTS
Watching documentaries, Saturday Night Live, and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Bowling – bowled perfect game (300).