ONE SUNDAY MORNING IN MAY 2014, I WOKE UP TO FIND MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF MOST PEOPLE’S WORST NIGHTMARE.

Stolen, half-nude photos of me were splashed across tabloids world wide — along with allegations that falsely branded me a whore, even a predator. 

I lost everything. Not just my job, but my career in education. My calling. And most of my friends disappeared in the blink of an eye because, even if they believed I was innocent, they didn’t want to be associated with the “mess.” 

I came to the painful realization that I would have to rebuild my life from scratch, with the added burden of a scarred and tattered reputation.

Despite being broken and feeling hopeless, I put one foot in front of the other and pushed forward. I found the strength to put myself through law school as a single mom and eventually rebuilt my life and my career. 

Now, I work for one of the most notable anti-violence law firms in the country, and every day I help people who are facing the same types of injustice that I faced all those years ago. 

My love of teaching, my experience as a survivor of public shaming, and my skills as an advocate have all combined to give me this wonderful (and accidental!) gift of guiding survivors through the unthinkably difficult aftermath of a public shaming event.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF IN YOUR POST-SHAMING JOURNEY,

I’ll meet you where you are and walk alongside you on your pathway forward.

I love meeting and getting to know new people through conversation and sharing of ideas.

I believe every single person has worth and that no one deserves to stay in a hurt place - even if they did a bad or dumb thing.

I believe that the way to achieve a healthier and happier world is one person at a time, and that starts with showing people the ways they are in control of their own outcome, despite what might feel like insurmountable odds.