Born and raised on a horse farm in rural Michigan, Josie’s earliest lessons in public service came from watching her family and neighbors show up for one another. Whether through agriculture or her early involvement in community organizations like 4H, Josie learned early on that real change starts close to home.
After earning her legal studies and political science degrees with a minor in African American studies at Grand Valley State University, she spent two years working at a legal advocacy nonprofit in Grand Rapids. Her work brought her into direct contact with communities facing systemic barriers, eventually leading her to the DC to advocate for student debt relief.
That drive to make a difference led Josie to Seattle and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. The transition wasn’t easy. “I moved here with my best friend, but Seattle was a culture shock,” she says. “It was bigger, different, and I didn’t expect how much it would stretch me.”
Yet, Josie found herself not just adapting, but leading. Over the past two years, she served as Vice President of Students for the Evans Student Organization (ESO), placing her at the center of student advocacy. “My job was to be present, listen, and speak up,” she says. “If there was a student concern, I took it seriously. That work connected me deeply with our Evans community.”
This spring, Josie was selected to serve as the 2025 MPA student commencement speaker, a moment that she expressed still feels surreal. “I wasn’t expecting to be chosen. There is pressure, of course. You want to be encouraging but also real in the speech. We are stepping into policy work in a challenging world, and you can’t ignore that.”
She will shape her speech around two guiding ideas: pride and gratitude. “I want my classmates to feel proud of themselves and everything they’ve pushed through to get here. I want to thank the people who supported us, who helped us not lose ourselves when the world feels heavy.”
Josie credits two mentors, King County Council Member Sarah Perry and State Senator Victoria Hunt, for their steady guidance. She also highlights the hard work and dedication of Evans faculty and staff, such as Becky Corriell, Kate Sykes, and Crystal Hall, who she says “consistently show up for students.”
A passionate advocate for racial equity, Josie says one of the main reasons she chose the Evans School was their clear commitment to anti-racist work. “It wasn’t just talk. Evans named it, and that matters, especially coming from the Midwest, where those conversations aren’t always vocalized.” She hopes to carry that energy forward in her career, working to empower diverse communities and push policy beyond performative Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work and toward meaningful, systemic change.
She also sees a bright future for the Evans School. “I’m really excited for the incoming ESO leadership. They are dedicated and ready to keep pushing for progress. The school is in good hands.”
Looking ahead, Josie is attracted to environments where values and actions align, where policies are not only theoretical but also genuinely transformative. Evans reminded her of why she started this work, and she hopes to continue making a meaningful impact.
