- Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
- Role: Librarian for the Alaska Legislature.
- Years of legislative service: 11
“Be aware of underlying assumptions and knowledge gaps, and periodically test them.”
Why did you choose to work at the Legislature?
I sort of stumbled into it. While I was finishing my degree in library science, the Alaska Legislature decided to digitize its archived audio recordings. A friend referred me to the project and the experience helped greatly when they later needed a librarian.
What skill or talent are you most proud of?
My ability to rapidly process and assimilate information—even if only temporarily. Side effects include being able to get a rough idea of how unfamiliar resources are organized, to read lists that cycle between excessive and not long enough, and sometimes to listen to podcasts at double speed.
What’s the best advice you were ever given?
Be aware of underlying assumptions and knowledge gaps, and periodically test them. At first this may feel like a cumbersome way to avoid errors, but it can help identify when adjusting assumptions may be helpful in some way, such as by limiting the scope of information to examine in a request.
Who or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by Virginia Del. Danica Roem, New Hampshire Rep. Gerri Cannon, Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt and Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr to name a few. Being a transgender person (or person with a transgender family member) working in a conservative legislature during this anti-trans moral panic is already stressful and demoralizing enough, but navigating a similar environment as a legislator can only be more so.
What’s one thing you love about your state?
Alaska has at least the remnants of its frontier existence in the form of abundant natural beauty and a certain “live and let live but everyone pitches in to help when needed” mindset. Some of these aspects are unfortunately diminishing with time and cultural shifts, however.
What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?
Music: Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Reading: I’ve been on an unintended-consequences-of-technology kick lately, especially bias in algorithms and AI. So, books like “Weapons of Math Destruction” and “Algorithms of Oppression” and journal articles that explore these topics.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Use the email icon above to suggest a staffer for the “Staff Snapshots” series.