About me

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I'm a community leader and activist dedicated to social change, education, and empowerment of others. With a background in social work, community organizing, facilitating, teaching, and fundraising, I've dedicated my personal and professional life to affecting change.  

Originally from Monaca, Pennsylvania, I overcame a difficult childhood plagued with significant trauma to become a walk-on on the University of Kentucky Track and Field Team, ultimately earning a full scholarship and becoming one of the top miler's in the SEC. I earned my bachelor's and master's degree in social work, with a concentration on family and community development.
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Since graduating, I've been involved in and led many community initiatives focused on effecting change. Serving as a community leader, I've been trusted to lead many projects, conferences, and workshops as well as serve on many boards, committees, coalitions, and panels. One of my proudest accomplishments has been as co-founder and board president of On The Move Art Studio, a nonprofit mobile art room that has provided free arts classes to over 45,000 at-risk youth. 

I've been fortunate to work with some of the best and brightest leaders across the world. I've never had coffee before: THIS kind of work is my coffee! Below is a sample of some of my awards and recognition. I hope to work with you today! 

Awards & Recognition 

  • 2008-2011 South Eastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll
  • 2010 University of Kentucky Athletics Frank G. Ham Society of Character Inductee
  • 2010 USA Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association D-1 All-Academic Team
  • 2010 & 2011 State Farm-Insurance Athlete of the Month
  • 2010-2011 SEC Community Service Team
  • 2010-2011 University of Kentucky CATSPY Award for Community Service
  • 2011 Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award (National)
  • 2011 SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship Award Winner
  • 2011 University of Kentucky College of Social Work Departmental Honors
  • 2011 Association of Fundraising Professionals Champions of Philanthropy Award
  • 2012 SEC Community Service Team
  • 2012 SEC Academic Honor Roll
  • 2012 John Wooden Citizen Cup Award Finalist (National)
  • 2012 University of Kentucky Athletic Department CATSPY Award for Community Service
  • 2012 University of Kentucky Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion Recipient
  • 2012 USA Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division 1 Track and Field All-Academic Team
  • 2012 University of Kentucky College of Social Work Most Outstanding Master’s Student
  • “Josh’s Run Day” – Declared by proclamation on March 6, 2014, by Mayor Jim Gray in support of Josh’s Run to Frankfort – Ran from Lexington to Frankfort (25.5 miles) to raise awareness and money for domestic violence and HB 8 - $5,000 raised, donated to GreenHouse17. HB 8 was subsequently passed.
  • Bring Us Home Co-Founder – Went homeless to raise awareness and money for homelessness in partnership with Catholic Action Center. Raised $3,000 which was enough to house one person for one year.
  • 24 hour Homeless Challenge – Went homeless for 24 hours with other community leaders to raise money and awareness for homeless youth in Lexington. Over $50,000 was raised.
  • Chosen as one of “Today’s Heroes” by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department – Used on poster alongside local leaders such as Mayor Gorton, Commissioner Chris Ford, and Devine Carama to advocate for the use of carrying Narcan as a way to reduce overdoses
  •  Featured in “Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes” – A book series by author Steve Flairty, with the subtitle “Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things”
  • Lexenomics DreamFuel Grant Recipient
  • 2015 New Leaders Council Graduate
  • 2016 A Cup of Commonwealth Community Ambassador Award
  • 2017 8 80 Cities Emerging City Champion
  • 2017 Lexington Leadership Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year
  • 2018 Kentucky Colonel
  • 2019 Lauren K. Weinberg Humanitarian of the Year
  • 2020 Leadership Lexington Graduate
  • 2020 - Run for Black Lives – Event created to run and raise money for Black Lives Matter – Run from Lexington to Frankfort, raising over $7,000 for Black Lives Matter