Appointed/Elected:
Appointed June 2010, by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Elected in 2012, 2018, and 2024. Term expires January 2031.
Education:
B.A. - Luther College (Decorah, Iowa)
J.D. - University of Minnesota Law School
Past Employment:
Assistant Steele County Attorney, 1991 – 2010
Ruth, Schreiner & Long,
Associate 1991 – 1994
Partner 1994 - 1999
Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Law Clerk, juvenile protection division, 1990 - 1991
Professional Education Group, Intern 1989 - 1990
Professional Memberships:
Rice County Bar Association: 2010 - present
Steele County Bar Association: 1991 – 2010
Secretary/Treasurer, 1997 – 1998
Vice President, 1998 - 1999
President, 1999 - 2000
Minnesota State Bar Association, past member
Minnesota Family Support and Recovery Association, past member
Minnesota Women Lawyers, past member
American Bar Association, past member
Judicial Activities:
Rice County Children’s Justice Initiative lead judge, 2010 – present
Minnesota District Judges Association, member
Board of Directors, 2013 - present
Third Judicial District Resources Workgroup: 2012 – present
eCourts Minnesota Judge Team
Judicial Officers Technology Advisory Team
Annual Conference of Judges planning group, 2013
Child Abuse Neglect Institute, National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges, 2015
Past Professional Activities:
Minnesota Gambling Control Board, Governor-appointee, 2008 – 2010
Owatonna Business and Professional Women, member, 2008 - 2010
Woman of Achievement Award finalist, 2008
Steele County Children’s Justice Initiative committee, 2004 – 2010
Minnesota County Attorney’s Association, Juvenile Law Committee, 2004- 2010
High School Mock Trial volunteer, 1992 – 2008
Steele County Child Protection Team, 1991 – 2010
Teaching and Lecturing Experience:
Annual Conference of Judges: “The 7 Wonders of the Delinquency World,” Dec. 2015
CJI Statewide Conference:
- “Planning for Success (part 1): Key Components in Developing an Effective Out-of-Home Placement Plan” and
- “Planning for Success (part 2): Key Components for Court Review and Monitoring of Progress on Out-of-home Placement Plans,” Sept. 2015
MCAA Advanced Termination of Parental Rights Trial Skills Course, April 2008
Parent Provider Connection GROW conference: “Mandated Child Protection Reporting,” 2006, 2007 and 2009
Child Protection Seminar, MCAA conference: “The CHIPS Trial,” April 2003
MCAA seminar at MSBA Annual Conference: “Divided Loyalties,” June 2002
Minnesota Department of Human Services Child Welfare Training System: “Concurrent
Permanency Planning,” various Minnesota locations, 1999 - 2000
Handling CHIPS Cases, MCAA/DHS conference: “The County Attorney-Social Worker Team,”
April 1999
Steele County Crisis Resource Center Advocacy Training: 1993 - 1996, 2002, 2004, 2009 – 2010
Current and Past Community Activities:
Young Life Owatonna, committee member and chairperson
Trinity Lutheran Church volunteer, council member and choir member
Little Theater of Owatonna cast member and volunteer
Leadership Owatonna participant, committee member and chairperson
Steele County Food Shelf Board of Directors
Wee Pals Childcare Center Board of Directors and chairperson
Crossroads of Owatonna youth shelter Board of Directors and chairperson