- Hometown: Bristol, Vt.
- Role: Chief legal editor for the Alaska Legislature
- Years of legislative service: 13
“As a perfectionist and people pleaser, the idea that we are allowed to change our minds has let me take more risks and trust my instincts.”
Brown
Why did you choose to work at the legislature?
I was just out of college with a degree in English and was visiting family in Alaska. I liked the capital city and saw a job advertised with the Legislature for a session-only proofreading position. I found the work interesting and unique and was mentored by a superior who encouraged me to stay in Juneau. Here I am still, 13 years later!
What skill or talent are you most proud of?
My ability to listen and remember details.
What’s the best advice you were ever given?
When I was in college, I was debating whether to spend a summer working as an au pair in Italy. I was worried it might not work out in some way. A good friend told me, very simply, “If it doesn’t feel right, you can leave.” That freed me up then and still comes back to me often. As a perfectionist and people pleaser, the idea that we are allowed to change our minds has let me take more risks and trust my instincts.
Who or what inspires you?
My close friends near and far. They buoy me up when I feel stuck or down, and they consistently model how to be more courageous, compassionate and playful. They inspire me both to grow and to make peace with being a work in progress.
What’s one thing you love about your state or territory?
The wild, rugged terrain and the people it attracts.
What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?
I'm reading the novel “The Bee Sting,” by Paul Murray, which follows the members of a dysfunctional Irish family after the 2008 financial crash.
I’m listening to the Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds, whom I just discovered. I am seeing a theme here!
I’ve been watching “Colin from Accounts,” an Australian rom-com series.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Use the email icon above to suggest a legislative staffer for the “Staff Snapshots” series.