Date and Place of Birth:
March 13, 1960
Springfield, MO
Occupation:
Former Business Owner, Alaska Natural (Wholesale Alaska Gift Items), Macuir Company
Commissioner:
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)
Residency in Alaska:
Anchorage, 1975-present
Education:
High School - Bartlett, 1975-79
College - University of
Alaska Anchorage, 1978-79; Claremont McKenna College, 1979-82, B.A. (honors)
Political and Government Positions:
Senate Majority Leader, Present
Commissioner, Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, present Childrens
Caucus, 1987-present American Council for Young Political Leaders, present Co-Chair, 1998 member of Mental Health Parity Task Force,
Health Resources & Access Task Force, 1991-92 Co-Chair, Family Support Task
Force, 1989-90 Co-Chair, Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Task Force, 1990
Chair, House Rules Committee, 1990-92 Chair, House Health, Education & Social
Services Committee, 1988-90 Co-Chair/Founder, Tourism Working Group, 1987-89
Service Organization(s) Membership:
Board of Directors, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center; Board of Directors, Blacks in Alaska History Project, Inc.; Board
Member, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska; Board Member, Food Bank of
Anchorage Advisory Board; Fairview Community Council; Board Member, Anchorage
Economic Development Corporation; Member, Anchorage Waterways Council; Member, Alaska Women's Lobby; Business and
Professional Women/USA; Member, We the People Committee; Member, Key Campaign to advocate for people with disabilities
Other:
1st Annual Senator Johnny Ellis Community Service Award, 2000,
Alaska Community Service Commission, Alaska Business and Professional Women
Appreciation Award, 2000 ACLU Legislator of the Year Award, 1996 Alaska Public
Health Association Award for Community Service, 1996 Advocate for Alaska's Children
Award, 1998 Excellence Award, Anchorage Association for Education of Young Children,
1995 Primary Health Care Award Winner; Outstanding Representative, Standing
Together Against Rape Golden Key Award, Key Campaign for Developmental Disabilities
Recipient, Mayor's Award for Historical Preservation
Special Interests:
Travel, reading, politics and history
