:

Date and Place of Birth:
March 13, 1960
Springfield, MO

Occupation:
Former Business Owner, Alaska Natural (Wholesale Alaska Gift Items), Macuir Company

Commissioner:
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

Residency in Alaska:
Anchorage, 1975-present

Education:
High School - Bartlett, 1975-79
College - University of Alaska Anchorage, 1978-79; Claremont McKenna College, 1979-82, B.A. (honors)

Political and Government Positions:
Senate Rules Chair, Present Commissioner, Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, present Childrens Caucus, 1987-present American Council for Young Political Leaders, present Co-Chair, 2007-2010 Senate Majority Leader, 1998 member of Mental Health Parity Task Force, Health Resources & Access Task Force, 1991-92 Co-Chair, Family Support Task Force, 1989-90 Co-Chair, Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Task Force, 1990 Chair, House Rules Committee, 1990-92 Chair, House Health, Education & Social Services Committee, 1988-90 Co-Chair/Founder, Tourism Working Group, 1987-89

Service Organization(s) Membership:
Board of Directors, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center; Board of Directors, Blacks in Alaska History Project, Inc.; Board Member, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska; Board Member, Food Bank of Anchorage Advisory Board; Fairview Community Council; Board Member, Anchorage Economic Development Corporation; Member, Anchorage Waterways Council; Member, Alaska Women’s Lobby; Business and Professional Women/USA; Member, We the People Committee; Member, Key Campaign to advocate for people with disabilities

Other:
1st Annual Senator Johnny Ellis Community Service Award, 2000, Alaska Community Service Commission, Alaska Business and Professional Women Appreciation Award, 2000 ACLU Legislator of the Year Award, 1996 Alaska Public Health Association Award for Community Service, 1996 Advocate for Alaska’s Children Award, 1998 Excellence Award, Anchorage Association for Education of Young Children, 1995 Primary Health Care Award Winner; Outstanding Representative, Standing Together Against Rape Golden Key Award, Key Campaign for Developmental Disabilities Recipient, Mayor’s Award for Historical Preservation

Special Interests:
Travel, reading, politics and history