About Me

My foray into journalism

started when I was very young.  I credit—or maybe blame—my parents for letting me watch 20/20 with them late at night. The investigative news show featured Diane Sawyer telling the most compelling stories in the most captivating cadence I’d ever heard. I was enchanted, and my life path was set.

I attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and majored in broadcast journalism. However, after an internship at the local TV news station that included more talks about what I should wear in order to get a promotion someday, rather than how I should report a story, I happily planted myself behind a desk at a newspaper post-graduation. With a reporter’s notebook in hand and all the confidence that comes with being 22, I covered everything from a hostage stand-off to a dog’s birthday party. Please don’t look up those articles. I highly doubt that was my best work.

  • Of course, when people stopped reading newspapers, this became a small problem for all of us reporters. I transitioned to magazines, but then people stopped reading those as much, too. Finally, I made the move to online journalism because I am nothing if not barely on trend. In 2013, I was asked by a former boss to write content for a new website focused on violence against women and soon after, DomesticShelters.org came to be. Eleven years later, we have helped millions of survivors, advocates and support persons find resources, information and connection. 

    What started as an assignment became my life’s passion. How can one not be passionate about ending violence against women when the atrocities of this epidemic surround us daily? I am raising two girls to launch into this world knowing the risks they will face, and I need to do everything in my power to make it a safer world for them. It is hard not to get bitter and angry doing this kind of work, but I remind myself regularly that muting the phone to let out a quick sob during an interview where a mother tells me how her baby was murdered by their father just to torture his ex-partner is the most human response I can have. Let us never become desensitized to this issue or it will never be taken seriously. 

    While I have not become, nor will ever reach the level of Diane Sawyer, my hope is that I am telling stories that leave a lasting impression, and maybe, move other people to action.

I was lucky enough

to meet another one of my journalistic idols, Robin Roberts, while on a family trip to New York. She is perfection. My dream is to work with her someday. Just throwing that out into the universe. Let’s set aside my lack of TV experience (remember that one internship 20 years ago? It should be enough.) Also, it was a very cold, very windy, New York morning, so just keep that in mind before you judge my hair.