Placement: Parks and Recreation Department, Recreation and Wellness Division

What I Worked on: I worked on 5 separate initiatives: (1) Neighborhood Wellness Teams: continuing the exploratory work that was initiated by 2009 City Hall Fellow Niiobli Armah, I worked with groups of volunteers who want to help make their communities healthier; (2) Corporate Games: I helped recruit companies to participate in this fun wellness event that benefits the educational opportunities for inner city youth; (3) Wellness Fair: I helped to encourage HPARD team members to attend the city-wide City of Houston employee Wellness Fair and other events sponsored by the Employee Wellness Advisory Council; (4) International Challenge Day: I participated on a team working to motivate one million Houstonians to exercise on the third Wednesday in May and be counted as part of this international wellness event; and (5) Walk Houston: I was part of a team that created a new initiative for Houston that promotes walking for exercise, transportation, and social community building.

Hometown: Houston, TX

School: University of Texas at Austin

Field of Study: Communication Studies, with a focus on Political Communication

Selected Honors: Recognized as a University Scholar, and a College of Communications Scholar; won several intramural championships at the University of Texas

Selected Activities and Community Involvement: Member of the Iota Chapter of Chi Omega; volunteered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central Texas; spent a summer as a counselor at Camp Ozark

Prior Work Experience: Legislative Assistant for State Representative John E. Davis (3 years); lobbying internship at HillCo Partners in Austin, TX; public affairs internship at The DCI Group in Washington D.C.

Why Houston is important to me: I have always been proud to call Houston my home, and I am glad to be returning to the city where I was raised. Working for a State Representative from the Houston area made me aware of how many important challenges and issues the City of Houston is facing as it continues to grow. I am excited to be a part of a team of people working to address these challenges so that the residents of Houston will continue to benefit from all that the city has to offer.

Something unique about me: I am an avid runner!

What I’m Doing Now: I work for a Texas State legislator.