My vision is to help bring about a collective focus and effort on caring for all children, particularly those impacted by illness. I believe effective partnerships and collaborations are the key to bringing about the best results for children and their families in such a crisis. Wonders & Worries has achieved success through such partnerships, as our seed funding was provided by Livestrong, and our budget remains fully funded by charitable gifts. I am confident there is a future Austin where there is an expanded network of healthcare organizations and non-profits working together to treat and cure disease, and to serve the comprehensive, individual needs of each family member affected by illness, regardless of socio-economic status. Through a commitment to excellence, collaboration, education, and service to the community, I stand ready to work tirelessly towards that goal.

The characteristic I most value in a community leader and recognize and cultivate in myself is integrity. A community leader has an incredible responsibility to those who look to him or her for education, direction, motivation, and inspiration. He or she must be able to communicate honestly, to consider other points of view fairly, and to be trustworthy and reliable in carrying out the desired outcomes for the greater good. At the heart of these abilities is an inner strength of resolve to do what is right at all times. At the heart of integrity is the commitment to honesty and transparency in all things. Leaders who model integrity truly value the ideas and viewpoints of others, and seek out true collaboration. The value of integrity is evident in leaders who don't take credit for their success, but give recognition to those working around him or her, viewing their role as a "servant" leader, treating all people with care and respect. A community leader must be humbled by the opportunity to serve in a leadership position. A leader who models integrity is likely to be an individual that values self reflection, a discipline which reminds us that we are not infallible and must continue to improve ourselves. The value of integrity is most evident when there is a disagreement because those involved lend their respect and confidence in the leader's ability to work toward a resolution with honorable intentions.

As Austin’s first pediatric oncology Child Life Specialist, I saw how devastating serious illness can be on the entire family. That experience led me to the realization that children are particularly vulnerable when their parent is ill. The vision for Wonders & Worries began when it was discovered that support for these children simply didn’t exist – not only in Austin, but anywhere in the U.S. Starting a nonprofit has not been easy, but I am motivated because there are children in crisis who need our help. And, we can serve in a leadership role for the rest of the country, educating others regarding the need, and demonstrating how to replicate the services we provide.

Spanish! While I took some Spanish, it was something in retrospect I wish I focused far more on. Reflecting back, I was embarrassed that the pronunciation did not come easily for me and for that reason I did not apply myself well or continue it beyond what was required.

Ice cream and wine. I love a glass of wine at the end of my work day and a bit of ice cream before I go to bed. Of course I also work out every day.

I have lived in Austin 37 years. I moved to Austin when I married my husband, Duane Cooper. I was a junior in college and continued my undergraduate and graduate education at UT. What most people don't know is that I met Duane the last semester of his senior year in college. He was moving to Texas to live and work. We dated only six weeks before deciding to get married and for me to join him in Austin. I had never been to Texas before having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area. We will have been married 38 years this January and I love Austin.