About Me

I grew up near the shores of Lake Armington in Piermont, New Hampshire, just across the Connecticut River from Bradford, Vermont. From an early age, my mom, Carol, introduced my sister Ayla and me to community service through volunteering for our local church, school, and library. My dad, Russ, a self-employed sign painter and muralist, passed on a love for art and an ethic for hard work. We grew up below the poverty line, which came with challenges, but we were held up by a village of close-knit families and dedicated teachers. Those experiences shaped how I understand community and relationships.

During middle school, I was selected for and participated in the People to People Student Ambassador Program in Europe and the Presidential Classroom: National Security in Democracy Program in Washington, D.C. I attended Oxbow High School in Bradford and moved there when I was sixteen. I worked several jobs at once such as babysitting, retail, food service, network administration, and website design. After high school, I began at the University of Vermont before transferring to Vermont State University Lyndon, commuting from an off-the-grid hunting shack in Corinth. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design. In 2010, I moved to Seattle and received a Master of Communication in Digital Media from the University of Washington. In 2012, I returned to Bradford with a remote job as Director of Digital for an education software company and bought my first home.

Giving back to my community has always been a core part of who I am. I have served on more than two dozen local, regional, and statewide organizations. In Bradford, I am a Justice of the Peace and have served on several town commissions such as Planning, Public Safety, Conservation, and Resilience. Before taking office, I served on boards such as Vermont Council on Rural Development, Community Capital of Vermont, the Bradford Business Association, and the Cohase Rotary Club. I also served on the steering committee of the Vermont Creative Network, the cabinet of EMERGE Vermont, and the Future of Vermont Action Team. I chaired the boards of Vital Communities and Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation and was in line to serve as District Governor of Rotary International District 7850 covering Vermont, New Hampshire, and Quebec until stepping down to run for State Representative of Orange-2 in 2022.

Through volunteer leadership, I have learned how community and economic development intersect, where systems fall short, and how much rural empowerment and public engagement matter.

In 2017, determined to help revive Bradford’s emptying Main Street, I founded The Space On Main. Housed in the former Hill’s 5 and 10 department store, it grew into a nonprofit coworking space, community gathering space, and education center. From its founding until January 2022, The Space On Main was fully volunteer-led. We supported remote workers, created programming to educate and connect people, convened discussions between community partners, and provided the physical and social infrastructure needed to strengthen the northern Upper Valley. In 2022, I became the organization’s first paid employee and built programming in STEM education, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, small business, and the creative economy including storytelling, arts, and music. On June 1, 2025, The Space On Main transferred its assets to The Hub: Bradford Teen Center so it could expand its footprint and offerings.

In July 2025, to create more balance with legislative service, I leaned into MEPriestley LLC, the Bradford based consulting practice I have run since 2004. As principal consultant and technologist, I provide privacy and AI program management and fractional leadership on tech stack and technology strategy. Earlier work through MEPriestley LLC focused on graphic design, web design, and web development. I have also begun returning to nonprofit board service to support regional economic and community development efforts.

I am a seasoned leader who thrives on connecting people to each other and to resources. I am an innovative, strategic systems-thinker committed to finding collaborative solutions that improve the lives of Vermonters, especially those in the northern Upper Valley. My background in design, technology, and digital communications is something I bring into my service at the Statehouse.

I am also queer, neurodivergent, and a humanist. These parts of who I am shape how I lead, how I communicate, and how I show up for others. They have helped me build deep empathy, a strong sense of fairness, and an ability to see systems from the outside as well as from within.

I am currently serving my second term as State Representative for Orange-2 which includes Bradford, Fairlee, and West Fairlee, and I have announced my candidacy for the Vermont State Senate for Orange County in 2026. My campaign builds on a record of candid, bipartisan leadership and is grounded in affordability, transparency, and inclusion. After two terms in the House, I have found a way to lead that aligns with my values, grounded in authenticity, community, and the belief that government should work for everyone. This campaign is about building what is next, together.

My resume and more information about my professional background can be found on my consulting website.