Experience
I was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2009—many of you will remember me as the woman who campaigned from a wheel chair for 12 weeks. When I got to Madison, I quickly put my experience as a consensus builder to work, gaining the respect of my fellow legislators and getting eight bills signed into law in my first term. A vigorous advocate for the 22nd Assembly District and for Wisconsin, I continue to build my experience in order to better serve you and all my constituents. Below is an overview of that experience.
Doyle signing breastfeeding bill
Governor Doyle signing the Parity Act
Assembly Committees
Public Health (Vice Chair)
Health and Health Reform
Housing
Corrections and the Courts
Criminal Justice
Additional Committees and Activities
Alumna of the BILLD INSTITUTE, Summer 2009
COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS MIDWEST REGION: Health and Human Services Committee
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE LEGISLATURES: Standing Committee on Health
QUALITY HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY: State Assembly Representative
WISCONSIN WOMEN’S COUNCIL: Board Member, Legislative Representative
Legislative Awards and Honors
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters – 2010 Conservation Champion
Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians – 2010 Friend of Family Physicians
Equality Wisconsin – 2009 Equal Rights Champion
Wisconsin Dietetic Association – 2010 Leadership in Nutrition Awareness Award
Wisconsin Public Health Association – 2010 Legislator of the Year
Professional Background
Assistant Professor at Columbia College of Nursing for 15 years
Coordinator of Milwaukee’s Crisis Intervention Team
Founder of the Crisis Intervention Partner program
Numerous community service positions, including the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; hospital ethics committees; the PTA; and the boards of American Red Cross, Warmline, Inc., Hope House, Advocates for Education, and Whitefish Bay Soccer Club
Elected for 4 terms as President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Milwaukee
Memberships
American Red Cross Nurses
American Public Health Association
American Society for Bioethics and Humanities
Education
University of Wisconsin, Madison: Bachelor of Science, Nursing
Medical College of Wisconsin: Master of Arts in Bioethics
University of Rochester, New York: Master of Science in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
