What New Orleans neighborhood do you live in? / Where did you grow up?
We bought a home in Gentilly Terrace in 2020, but I’ve lived all over the City in the almost 19 years I’ve lived here. I’m originally from Monroe, Michigan which is a small suburb between Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Toledo, Ohio.
Describe your job to us!
I am the Director of Administration and Planning for the Chief Administrative Office. In this role I wear a lot of hats, but my work mainly focuses on supporting the Chief Administrative Officer in planning and executing priority projects as well as carrying out the administrative functions of our office. I also oversee the American Rescue Plan Act Implementation Team.
Tell us about your career path.
After I graduated from Tulane in 2009, I joined Teach For America and taught 9th grade algebra for 2 years at L.W. Higgins High School in Marrero, LA. After that, I moved to Atlanta to teach 9th grade math for Atlanta Public Schools. I missed New Orleans too much and moved back shortly after to support data and operations at both ReNEW and FirstLine before joining the Louisiana Department of Education in 2014 as an Education Pioneers Data Analyst Fellow. After 2 years at LDOE I returned to Tulane to get my Masters in Public Health in Disaster Management. I graduated with my Masters in May of 2018 and joined the City that fall as an Innovation Manager. I transitioned to my current role in February 2022.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
In my role I have the opportunity to work with colleagues from Departments and Agencies across the City. I enjoy getting to know and work with so many different people who are doing truly transformational things for the City. We have some of the most dedicated and hard-working employees and I am lucky to work with them every day.
What challenges do you find to be the greatest in your role?
One of the biggest challenges in my role is that we are usually working on very tight deadlines. I often must stop what I am working on and pivot to something completely different to “put out fires.”
What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?
My favorite thing about New Orleans is … everything! The community, the music, the food, the events – this City is one of a kind and I feel so fortunate that my kids get to grow up experiencing everything New Orleans has to offer.