I am a recent graduate student of the Library and Information Science (LIS) program at the University of Washington and a U.S. Army veteran with eight years of service.

During my time in the military, I led teams, mentored over 50 soldiers, and managed more than $6.5 million in communications equipment. I coordinated with service members across Romania, Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and supported critical communication operations while deployed to Afghanistan.

Working in these high-pressure settings showed me just how critical clear communication is, and shaped how I lead, adapt, and collaborate with others. These experiences also grounded me in a strong sense of responsibility to the systems that sustain connection and understanding, and what began as a responsibility to maintain communication systems grew into a broader interest in how information shapes understanding, memory, and community.

I am especially passionate about preserving stories that shape community identity and expanding access to shared histories. I am interested in building relationships with local organizations, cultural keepers, and community members to develop collections that reflect lived experiences and amplify underrepresented voices. I see archives not only as spaces that safeguard materials, but as active sites of dialogue and intergenerational learning.

My academic and research experiences have deepened this commitment. I was selected for a competitive 10-week research program focused on ethics, communication, and scientific presentation, where I presented findings on how transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) affects memory performance. I also completed the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), an intensive six-week program combining STEM coursework, clinical simulations, and career development. In my writing, I have explored issues of representation and equity, including a 2,400-word paper examining the lack of racial and skin tone diversity in medical educational materials.

Most recently, I have completed my internship with the Digital Theological Library, where I contributed to expanding open access collections through OCLC’s WorldShare Management System. My work included adding new materials to existing collections, developing a new African American Studies collection in the OCLC Knowledge Base, and assessing gaps in representation within large-scale bibliographic systems. Through this experience, I have developed practical skills in metadata management, digital curation, and equitable collection development.