I am a writer, artist, educator, and end-of-life doula based in Portland, Oregon. I call myself a cultural worker because I believe in the transformative power of building creative, compassionate, and resilient communities.

For over 20 years, I worked in public schools, guiding students of all ages through the creative process in supportive and dynamic collaborative settings. Seventeen of those years were spent teaching high school students ceramics, painting, photography, drawing, filmmaking, film history, mindfulness, and how to navigate being a human. My writing on systemic issues in public education has appeared in various publications.

In 2022, I stepped away from my studio classroom and moved abroad with my family for a year. During that time, I devoted myself to writing my Substack newsletter, Notes From the Lagoon, and began charting a new path toward work that explores the intersection of creativity and death.

Upon returning to Portland, I began working as a creative collaborator with clients and took on the role of Studio Coach for Teaching Preschool Partners, supporting teachers in integrating creative play into their classrooms.

My desire to help people confront death and process their grief with loving and compassionate support led me to complete an end-of-life doula training with The Peaceful Presence Project. I am currently a NEDA-certified end-of-life doula with the Peaceful Presence Project in Portland.

I am a skilled communicator and facilitator, dedicated to building meaningful relationships and valuing the wisdom and expertise of each individual. I hold a Master’s in Teaching, am a trained mediation and Restorative Justice facilitator, and am currently pursuing a second graduate degree in transpersonal psychology, indigenous death practices, and cultural evolution.

I love to find patterns in chaos and humor in the absurd, and I’m eternally in search of the perfect swimming hole.