About me

I am not your typical animal chaplain or animal advocate. I grew up on a farm in rural Kansas, where my family ran a poultry hatchery, and where I worked for many years. An introverted, highly sensitive child who was bullied and ostracized at her small school, I always felt a sense of solidarity with the underdog which, as I was eventually encouraged to challenge the paradigm I was raised in, led me to Veganism and a commitment to justice for nonhuman animals.

I graduated magna cum laude from Wichita State University with a BA in psychology.

For more than 10 years, I was active in the Wichita Animal Rights Meetup group, which I founded in 2012. During that time, I organized the monthly meetings, Vegan potlucks, discussion groups, Vegan film fests, Vegan holiday potlucks, circus protests, a “What Really Matters” conference with JoAnn and Sarina Farb, tableing and outreach at various events, and Vegan pop-up markets.

In 2021, I published a memoir titled Evolving into Wholeness: My Journey of Compassion.

In 2022, I completed the Main Street Vegan Academy, becoming a Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (VLCE).

In September of 2022, I began Compassion Consortium’s Animal Chaplaincy program, with ordination on June 25.

In addition to the standard certification, I’m attending the Master level of the Main street Vegan Academy, and will graduate with a Master Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (MVLCE) certificate in May 2023.

I currently live in Wichita, Kansas with my feline companion, Mandi. Along with taking care of my beautiful cat, I enjoy taking photos of the wonderful animals and the beautiful landscape surrounding my hometown.