Grant Consulting & Program Development
Driving social innovation through meaningful participation, authentic partnership, and demonstrated social impact.
For over 20 years, my career has been defined by a single question: How can we bridge the gap between visionary community service and the rigorous evidence required for long-term impact?
Since 2014, I have been running Live & Learn, Inc., a research consultancy that partners with universities, governments, and community organizations on participatory action research.
As a PhD-trained researcher and entrepreneur, I spent two decades navigating the complex world of federal R&D, securing and managing over $3 million in grant funding from agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Administration for Community Living. My work has been cited by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and featured in the New York Times and The Boston Globe. But beyond the data and the national stage, my heart is in the community where I have lived for the last 10 years: San Luis Obispo County.
I am passionate about working with colleagues and stakeholders on diverse multi-generational teams, and forming lasting, reciprocal, and mutual relationships that improve the wellness and effectiveness of all involved. As a SCORE small business mentor and ESL tutor, I am dedicated to helping individuals identify and strategically achieve their goals. I particularly love working with emerging leaders who are making a positive impact on their communities by facing their fears and chasing their dreams.
With 20 years’ experience in health, education, and social welfare policy, I have been the project director or co-investigator on eight federal R&D grants, and author of numerous professional and peer-reviewed publications.
Education
PhD, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (2014)
Master of Public Policy, Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management (2010)
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Lesley University (2006)
