I grew up in a sleepy suburban town just north of Chicago, surrounded by a big extended family. I was raised by parents who have shown me again and again what it means to live with honesty and integrity, to treat others with compassion, to forgive easily, and to laugh and be silly. I spent my summers playing outside, riding bikes and horses, and bickering with my younger brother. Some of my favorite memories are of visits to my grandparents’ farm in Nebraska.

I earned a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and then left all those sweltering Midwestern summers and freezing winters behind me and followed my parents to the San Francisco Bay Area. I received my law degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). I had my son, Noah, a year before I started law school and have shared custody with his dad ever since. I love hanging with Noah and being his mom. I love anything having to do with water (swimming, scuba diving). I love horses and right now am getting my horse fix by volunteering with a therapeutic horseback riding program called GiantSteps.