Graduate Stewartville High School, 1980; B.A., Augsburg College (Minneapolis, MN),1989; Council of State Governments- Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD) Fellow 2012, Toll Fellow 2014; National Conference of State Legislatures Early Learning Fellow.

Full-time legislator. Former teacher of English and Citizenship to Hmong adults.

Member- Council of State Governments (member of Health and Human Services Committee; National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, Mississippi River Caucus; Wisconsin Legislative Children's Caucus (cochair); Wisconsin Family Impact Seminar Advisors Committee; Viterbo University Board of Advisors; University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor's Community Council; American Association of University Women La Crosse Branch; Preservation Alliance of La Crosse; La Crosse Alliance to HEAL (Halting the Effects of Addiction Locally); Wisconsin Taiwan Friendship Caucus (cochair).

Elected to La Crosse County Board, 2004-12; Assembly in November 2011 special election. Reelected since 2012.

Member of Building Commission, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board and Historical Society of Wisconsin Board of Curators