I was raised in a small, conservative town in southern Oregon. After high school, I accepted an athletic scholarship to play college basketball in West Texas, essentially jumping from the fire to the frying pan. Being an out queer person in West Texas in 1994 did not bode well for me. After only one semester in college and refusing to hide my queer identity, my scholarship was revoked, I found myself back in picturesque yet conservative southern Oregon.

Seeking a more progressive environment, I moved to Chico, CA, and began working within the social service sector. My work initially spanned various roles, assisting adults with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, system-involved youth, unhoused individuals, and adults facing severe and persistent mental health challenges. In my early 20s, I became a foster parent, caring for teens, infants, and babies. 

In my mid-twenties, I moved to beautiful Scotland, where I volunteered at an agency that served youth and adult victims and survivors of ritual abuse. After returning to California, I once again decided to pursue my education, earning an undergraduate degree in Social Science and a Master's in Social Work from California State University, Chico. 

Catching me by surprise, at the age of thirty, I realized I was transgender and embarked on my social, legal, and medical transition. My transition not only impacted my personal life, it significantly redirected my professional endeavors towards the exclusive support and advocacy for the transgender community and their families.

In 2013, my journey took me to Los Angeles to be closer to my now-wife and daughter. It was there that I joined St. John's Community Health Center, tasked with developing their transgender health program. My tenure at St. John's was marked by remarkable growth, with the program expanding from serving ten patients to over 200. In 2015, I decided to pursue clinical work full-time, and soon after, I joined the Los Angeles Gender Center, eventually taking on the role of Executive Director.

In 2021, my academic journey continued at Simmons University, where I pursued a Doctorate in Social Work. My doctoral education was transformative, reshaping my approach to therapy and professional education training, where I began deconstructing White supremacy and intersectional oppression and developed an anti-oppressive practice approach. 

Outside of my professional life, I find solace and rejuvenation in the embrace of nature. Whether it's enjoying the warm (sometimes even hot) Southern California sun or adventuring into the woods for camping with my family, the serenity of the outdoors and the nourishment from the sun and fresh air are my sanctuaries.