Former Member, Victim Rights Committee of National Association of Attorneys Generals

Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 36, 2012-2022

Candidate, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 36, 2020

Former Ranking Member, Administration and Rules Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Ranking Member, Public Safety Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, State Government Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on International Relations, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on Justice System, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Community Services Coordinator, Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

Founding Director, Crime Victim Assistance Division, Iowa Attorney General's Office, 1989-2011

Director, Polk County Victim Services, 1984-1989

Medical Social Worker, Broadlawns Medical Center, 1981-1984

Program Manager, Polk County Family Violence Center Children and Families of Iowa, 1978-1980

Statewide Rape Education Coordinator, Polk County Rape/Sexual Assault Care Center, 1977-1978

Founder/Member, Iowa Chapter National Association of Social Workers, 2007-present

Member, Family Development and Self-Sufficiency Council, present

Member, United States Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus Advisory Committee, present

Former Member, Democratic Activist Women’s Network

Former Member, Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Former Member, Iowa Legislative Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect

Former Member, Iowa Legislative Task Force to Consolidate Iowa Victim Services

Former Member, Iowa Supreme Court Task Force on Courts’ and Community Response to Domestic Abuse

Former Member, National Association of Victims of Crime Act Assistance Administrators Board

Member, Iowa Domestic Violence and Health Care Leadership Team, 1998-2011

Volunteer, Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, 2000-2008

Chair, Democratic Activist Women’s Network, 2001-2007

Member, Iowa Liutenant Governor’s Committee to Stop Violence Against Women, 1996-2007

Member, Iowa Department of Corrections Offender Reentry Steering Committee, 2004

Member, Iowa Organization for Victim Assistance, Board of Directors, 1984-2000

Facilitator, Support Group for Straight Spouses of Gays and Lesbians, 1995-2000

Member, Iowa State Task Force on Stranger/Non-Stranger Sexual Assault, 1996-1999

Troop Leader, Girl Scouts of America, 1990-1998

Member, Iowa Supreme Court Task Force on the Courts’ and Community Response to Domestic Abuse, 1993-1994

Member, Mitchellville Correctional Facility for Women Advisory Board, 1988-1991

Member, Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Board of Directors, 1985-1990

Member, Iowa Department of Corrections Task Force on Sex Offender Treatment, 1988-1990

Member, Iowa Child Abuse and Neglect State Technical Assistance Team, Board, 1981-1989

Member, Iowa Legislative Interim Task Force to Consolidate Iowa Victim Services, 1988

Volunteer, Des Moines Community Telephone Counseling, 1980-1984

Volunteer, Cedar Falls Crisis Line, 1971-1973

Volunteer, Tiny Tots Day Care Center, 1969-1970

Awards:

2019 Strong and Feisty Woman Award, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, Iowa Organization for Victim Assistance
2011 Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice, Iowa Commission on the Status of Women
2005 Des Moines Woman of Achievement Award, Young Women's Christian Association
Lifetime Achievement Award, Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Founding Mother's Award, Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Abuse
Founder Award, Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

Favorite Quote:

"We are more alike than we are different"
"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Ghandi
"Politics is Social Work with Power." Senator Barbara Mikulski
"Do more than your share of the work, take less than your share of the credit." Attorney General Tom Miller

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Meeting people, reading, canoeing, time with friends and family, social justice and social change

Fun with friends and family, time with Husband, good novels, all kinds of music, the Iowa State Fair, politics of human life.

Number of Grandchildren:

3

Priority Issues:

Social Justice work on poverty, justice, crime victim rights, Civil Rights, public safety, women's rights, children's rights, public education, health and mental health care, and environmental protection.