• B.A., American History, Biology Minor. The University of Texas at Austin, 1996.
  -I love my undergraduate degree:  lots of reading and writing, plus every class you need to go to medical school (Physics, Calculus, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Cell Biology, and more).
  -I also took classes with the Dance majors @ UT, performed with Austin choreographers Elaine Dove, Melissa O'Dell and Andrea Ariel and played in a band during this time...
  
  

• Spoiler:  I did not go to medical school!
  
  

• M.B.A., Rice University, 2001.
  -President and founding member of the National Association of Women MBA Rice chapter.
  -Creator, coordinator and fundraiser for 1st annual Rice Women in Leadership Conference  (2026 was the 25th annual).
  -Admissions Counselor.
  -Chair, Dean's Lecture Series.

• Awards: Rice University Women's Resource Center Impact Award, Rice University Vice President's Appreciation Award, Jones Citizenship Award, David Farnsworth Scholarship, Jones School Scholarship.
  
  

• Associate's degree, Musical Theatre, Austin Community College, 2025.  This was my 'empty nest' project when my kids left for college.  All I wanted was more singing, more dancing!  I also completed 1/2 of a Music Composition associate's degree (to be continued...)

• Pondworks Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, 2004-present.
  -Director, Operations & Business Development
  -Pondworks serves 200+ community members per week, providing medication management combined with psychotherapy, and working with commercial insurance companies.
  -Proudest Accomplishment: creating an employee education reimbursement program through the CARES Act.  We have paid off three of our employees' student loans!

• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 2001-2004. Lebanon, NH.
  -I managed the Quality Research Grant Program, an internal grant to promote measurable clinical quality improvement and/or reduction of health care costs.  Publication: Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, Aug. 2002
  
  

• RBC Wealth Management, 1997-1999, Houston TX.  Brokerage firm administrative assistant.
  
  

• Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law.  1995-97, Administrative assistant.
  -This center promotes alternatives to litigation in public policy settings, as well as large group decision making processes.
  -I completed the 40-hour mediator training through the Dispute Resolution Center of Austin.

• I have served as an unpaid volunteer in my communities for my whole adult life (I'll be 60 in November 2026).
  
  Here are few of my roles:

• Austin Council of PTAs, communications chair, 2023-25:
  -I translated complex school-related issues and information into more easily understood language and images in weekly e-newsletter and advocacy social media campaigns.
  
  

• L C Anderson High School:
  -PTSA member 2017-2021
  -SEL committee chair, worked with  wellness counselor to present parent education events related to mental health and social emotional wellness. 
  -Volunteer coordinator, HEROs Copy Room 2017-2021 (saving teachers hundreds of hours of time preparing handouts).
  -Worked with AHS Principal Sammi Harrison to address vaping on campus, circulated 250+ signature petition, successfully added 'vaping' to AISD's disciplinary codes to support accurate counting.
  -Treasurer, AHS Track & Field Booster Club.
  -Anderson Men's Basketball Booster Club Program Coordinator/Editor 2018-19.
  -Corporate Sponsor, AHS Cross Country.
  -Campus Advisory Council, business representative, 2023-25.
  
  

• Austin ISD:
  -Community Workgroup on Eliminating Racial Disparities in Discipline and Punishment. 2022.
  -Ad Hoc Budget Committee. 2025.
  
  

• Girl Scout Troop #969 leader, 2012-14.
  
  

• Northwest Austin Youth Basketball Association and the Town Lake YMCA: girls and co-ed basketball coach.
  
  

• As a literacy volunteer with the Houston Read Commission, I taught a 53-year old man to read.  His education had been interrupted by his employment to help support his family.

photo: Pat Blashill