Leadership

Democratic Engagement  | Program Innovation | Academic Outreach

Informed by an unconventional career path across corporate law, academic research, program design, and public engagement, my leadership focus centers on three core areas: democratic engagement and civic discourse, program innovation, and academic outreach. As Outreach Director and now Associate Director of the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom, I have advanced civic and economic education through innovative programs—including a graduate initiative that trains state legislators in law, economics, and ethics—and strengthened free-speech–oriented dialogue through public discourse series that model constructive, dialectical exchange on divisive governance issues. I have also built partnerships that bridge disciplines, political perspectives, and industry sectors. Across these roles, I work to connect stakeholders who would not otherwise find themselves in the same room and to translate research-grounded insights into durable institutional and civic impact.

I work to connect stakeholders who would not otherwise find themselves in the same room and to translate research-grounded insights into durable institutional and civic impact.

Democratic Engagement

Public Discourse

Developed together with Freedom Center’s Director, Mary Rigdon, this series brings national leaders to Tucson for meaningful conversations about pressing social and economic issues. Past events include (see a full list of past events here):

– The Great Reshuffling (2023), exploring shifts in work and leadership post-pandemic and featuring Jay Nordlinger (National Review), Eric Grossman (Morgan Stanley’s Chief Legal Officer), Xavier A. Gutierrez (CEO of the Arizona Coyotes Hockey Club); and Helena Rodriguez (UA Chief Human Resources Officer).
– Women’s Equity in Sports (2023), featuring All-stars pioneers Adia Barnes (UA Women’s Basketball Coach), Kathryn Bertine (cyclist and author,), A.J. Mleczko (two-time Olympic hockey medalist), Sarah Spain (Emmy and Peabody Award-winning sports journalist), Kathrine Switzer (first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon), and Damien Alameda (KOLD News 13) as a moderator.

Public Debate

I ideated the Public Debate Series to promote constructive disagreement and civil dialogue on divisive governance issues, on which reasonable people might legitimately differ.

– ESG Now and in the Future: Is There Common Ground? (2024) featuring bipartisan experts Kevin Hassett (Director of the National Economic Council), Andrew Behar (CEO of the non-profit corporate activist firm As You Sow), Kimberly Yee (Arizona State Treasurer), Sandra Taylor (former SVP of Corporate Responsibility at Starbucks), and moderated by former White House press secretaries Ari Fleischer and Robert Gibbs.

American Institutions

On behalf of the Arizona Board of Regents, and in collaboration with the Museum of Democracy (the nation’s largest collection of presidential memorabilia), I oversaw a Presidential Project designed to deepen public understanding of the American Presidency. As part of this effort, I curated the project’s public-discussion component, bringing a series of special events to the UA campus. The initiative opened with “Civil Disagreement, Protest, and the American Republic”(2024) a widely attended conversation with Dr. Robert George and Dr. Cornell West on the civic value of disagreement for democratic renewal. The Presidential Project also features youth-focused programming, including the Vote You for President speech competition (2025) and the Create Your Own Campaign contest (2025).

Women in Academia: Leadership Summit & Retreat

Freedom Center’s Director, Mary Rigdon and I organized the first Women in Academia: Summit and Leadership Retreat, featuring author and activist Amy Diehl, to address the unique challenges faced by women in academia.

Journalists in Residence Program

I ideated the Journalists in Residence Program, bringing award-winning media and thought leaders to campus to share unique experiences and perspectives that reinforce the free press’s importance in promoting critical thinking, free speech and a healthy democracy. Residents have include Sarah Spain, Emmy- and Peabody-winning ESPN journalist; Jay Nordlinger, former senior editor at the National Review; and Johanna Maska, former White House Director of Press Advance for President Obama.

Program Innovation

Master of Legal Studies in Law & Economics

I developed the Master of Legal – Law & Economics (in collaboration with the James E. Rogers College of Law) in 2020—a first-of-its-kind program featuring dedicated tracks for state legislators and high school teachers. Graduates praise the program for strengthening their teaching and policymaking, with many supported through Freedom Center-funded scholarships.

Legislative Fellowship Program

The Legislative Fellowship program allows UA students to experience direct legislative experience via impactful internships with legislators through bipartisan placements allowing for high-impact civic training and experience.

EMLE Arizona

I have secured the placement of the University of Arizona as the first established American partner of the European Master Program in Law and Economics (https://emle.org)—an itinerant master program involving nine universities worldwide: Hamburg, Rotterdam, Ghent, Warsaw, Rome, Aix-en-Provence, Barcellona, Haifa and Mumbai.

Academic Outreach

The First Law, Markets & Policy Summer Workshop

I led the very first Law, Markets, and Policy Workshop which took place June 19 – 21, 2025 in Acciaroli (Italy). The workshop brought together scholars in economics, law, and philosophy for an intensive and highly interdisciplinary exchange, focused on institutional and policy challenges in market societies.

PPEL Summer School

Freedom Center’s Director, Mary Rigdon and I co-created the first Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law (PPEL) Summer School for undergraduates, funded by the John Templeton Foundation. The program offers free participation and housing to selected students and partners with the University of San Diego and Chapman University.

European Summer Schools

I partnered with renowned European universities to offer students an immersive educational experience at the intersection of philosophy, politics, economics, and law. These programs have taken place in Italy, France and Romania thus far.