My purpose in life forever changed when I nearly lost my youngest son to substance use disorder and multiple suicide attempts during his adolescent years. After 10 years in public education, I made the decision to leave the classroom and join a team of the most fierce and passionate community of individuals that serve in prevention and harm reduction in rural East Tennessee.

After serving two years in primary prevention at a State funded coalition in rural Union County TN, I accepted a position as one of Tennessee's Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists. I am responsible for providing regional trainings to medical professionals, law enforcement, first responders and lay persons on best practices for opioid prescribing, screening for substance use disorder, overdose prevention, harm reduction and administration and distribution of FREE naloxone (Narcan) and referrals to treatment programs. Region 2N includes eight counties- Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Morgan, Roane, Scott and Union counties.

I bring to my position a combination of 10 years classroom experience, two years of primary prevention coalition work, and six years of prior military command liaison support.