Senior DEIA Advisor, U.S. Department of the Treasury
(DEIA: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility)
Tell us about your work before you joined the Department of the Treasury.
Previously, I served as senior equal opportunity advisor for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, where I enforced civil rights regulations in housing and mortgage lending. I started my legal career in New York City as a Presidential Management Fellow, and in 2016 joined the Detroit HUD office as a member of HUD鈥檚 official response team to the Flint water crisis. I also served under the Obama administration as the White House jobs ambassador to the city of Flint, Michigan, where I worked to increase jobs and summer engagement for young people.
While living in New York, I also served as an adjunct professor for the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), a vibrant and unique nonprofit learning institution designed for nontraditional students and working professionals. My lectures focused on community building and social justice-related courses. Prior to joining MCNY and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, I worked at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, an Atlanta-based museum focused on educating visitors on the bridge between the American civil rights movement and the contemporary struggle for human rights around the world.
What were you involved in during law school?
I served as president of the Black Law Students Association and was a member of the Sports and Entertainment Law Association. I was also active in assisting with pro bono initiatives to assist Black arts institutions in the Denver area. I was also involved in many international initiatives. As a 2L, I traveled to London to study international law. As a 3L, I traveled to Quito, Ecuador, with the Criminal Law Clinic for a comparative law program co-sponsored by the American Bar Association. My most memorable experience included traveling to Butare, Rwanda, with former Associate Dean Dayna Matthew on a Fulbright-sponsored exchange with the National University of Rwanda, School of Law.
What are your areas of focus at the Department of the Treasury?
I serve as a senior DEIA advisor for the Department of the Treasury. I serve as the liaison to the White House DEIA Council and advise agency leaders on a myriad of important matters to ensure the organization implements policies, practices, and procedures that fully reflect diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
What drew you to government work?
I actually attended a brown bag program sponsored by Colorado Law鈥檚 Career Development Office highlighting the Presidential Management Fellowship. I was impressed by the speakers and decided to apply for the PMF program and generally pursue law in government as a career path. The PMF program is a competitive two-year executive training program specifically geared toward attracting high-achieving recent graduates of advanced degree programs (JD, MD, MPA, etc.) The program has a 5% acceptance rate. I applied twice before being accepted on the third try. Persistence is key!
What do you enjoy most about working in government?
The opportunity to do meaningful work, all while having a good work/life balance. All of my positions have focused on civil rights, and diversity and inclusion. This is important work; however, it can be taxing and hard on the spirit. Having a good work/life balance allows me to rejuvenate by spending quality time with my family and working on other passion projects that are incredibly important to me鈥攏amely, music projects and working with arts institutions.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
In 2016, as a Presidential Management Fellow, I had the opportunity to do a detail with the White House. I served as the White House jobs ambassador to the city of Flint, where I worked diligently to increase jobs and summer engagement for young people. In honor of my work in Flint, I received awards from the Flint Housing Commission and the Flint Federal Executive Board for outstanding service to the city of Flint.
Who, or what, inspires you?
My family! My mother is a physician and medical diplomat. Even with all of her accomplishments, she continues to pursue new opportunities in her personal and professional life. The same is true for my father, a jazz musician and visual artist, who continues to make art and contribute to the world creatively. My husband supports my dreams wholeheartedly, and my children (1 and 3 years old) keep me grounded and focused on the things that really matter鈥攌indness, justice, and love.
What advice would you give to law students interested in pursuing a career in government?
I would encourage current law students to apply for the PMF program, Legal Honors, or the various military JAG programs. Almost all of these programs provide an avenue into government specifically for recent law graduates, and offer exceptional training and competitive salaries.