Where did you grow up?
Northern Lower Peninsula. I lived in the Antrim County area until I left for college.
What is your degree in? Why did you choose that degree?
I have a bachelor’s in Political Science from Central Michigan University, and in 2021 I went back to school for my Master of Public Policy at Michigan State University. I originally paired my poli sci degree with a philosophy minor because I planned to go to law school. But after a few years working at a Prosecutor’s office, I realized I was more passionate about shaping public policy than practicing law. I felt I could make a bigger impact that way.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.
I’m a percussive dancer, a musician, and an aspiring banjo player!
What is your history with Detroit?
My grandma and mom immigrated from Stockport, England to the U.S. in 1968. After living in several states, they eventually landed in the Detroit area, and I was born in Macomb County. I’ve never lived in Detroit myself, but I’ve spent a lot of time learning about and appreciating and giving credit to the city’s arts and culture, like Motown, the Detroit Hustle, and square dancing. I feel most connected to Detroit through the traditional arts community.
What did you do before working at D3?
I was a Senior Research Associate at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University. My work was mostly qualitative and mixed-methods research (focus groups, surveys, and interviews), plus writing reports and blog posts. Some of my main research topics were public trust in institutions, data disaggregation, and higher education in prison programs.
What do you like about working at D3 so far?
I really like how close we are to the community. Data Driven Detroit gives me the chance to see real change happen in how resources and support services are delivered to residents.
What are your favorite types of data?
Qualitative data! Right now I’m especially interested in learning more about ethnographic and participatory research methods.
Who or what inspired you to take the path to Detroit, data, or both?
I really understood the importance of data once I could connect it to public policy and people’s lived experiences. D3’s commitment to unbiased access to data is a value of my own that’s grown stronger and stronger over the years.