I’ve worked at AU for a year and a half. Before that, I worked for a health advocacy organization, a national think tank, and as a legislative fellow in the US House of Representatives.

My job is to support students at the intersection of mental health and substance use disorders. I’m here to talk with students about moderating their use or how to quit altogether. And if I don’t know the answer to their questions, I know how to connect them with resources. A typical day includes meeting with students and analyzing student survey data to assess alcohol and drug trends on campus. I also facilitate Narcan trainings and other wellness events for the AU community. My office is in Hughes Hall, suite 105.

My favorite place on campus to steal a quiet moment is my office when I take a break and enjoy an IBC cream soda. I also like the amphitheater in the AU Arboretum and Gardens on a nice day. Campus is at its prettiest during cherry blossom season. Like seeing the dome of the Capitol Building lit up at night while driving down North Capitol Street, it’s iconically DC. My go-to lunch spot is Qdoba. I go so often they know what I want before I even order. My go-to drink at the Bridge is hot chocolate because coffee is for adults.

My favorite day of the workweek is Wednesday, which is the shared office day in my department. I found my community at AU by being a stereotypical extrovert. When I hang flyers around campus, I will pop in offices and meet people. That helps me get to know others and share about my work. I show my AU spirit by attending as many games as possible, including volleyball, basketball, soccer, and field hockey.

My work-from-home rituals include listening to loud music, making a strawberry banana smoothie, and obsessively snacking on Sour Patch Kids, pistachios, and Pringles. When I’m not at work, you can find me playing alto saxophone at 7DrumCity or dancing at the Salsa Room. My hobbies also include watching sports. It’s been rough being a fan of pretty much all of Washington’s pro teams as of late.

My most Washington moment is twofold as a native Washingtonian who left and came back. My most native Washingtonian moment was graduating from high school in Constitution Hall. My most transplant DC moment was working on the Hill and pretending to be cool every time I saw someone famous, which is—literally— every day. There are two sides of DC and they don’t often overlap, but I’ve experienced both.

The last great book I read was The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. The last great show I watched was True Detective. The last great meal I ate was chorizo and carnitas tacos from Taco City.

If I wasn’t an alcohol and other drugs specialist, I’d be a policy wonk downtown or a paramedic. I paid my way through college as an EMT, and I'm still a part-time EMT. I also like being able to influence policy, which I couldn’t do from an ambulance. But my job at AU is best because I get to help people. Often, students who meet with me really need someone to listen to them. It’s humbling to hear their stories and assist them.