I am a Vermont-based (and at times Israel-based) communications and political professional, known in Vermont public discourse both for my earlier career in state politics and government communications and, since Oct 7, 2023, for outspoken pro-Israel advocacy and antisemitism-focused organizing.
I began my professional career in journalism after graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in the field. Like many journalists, I was driven by a desire to understand how societies function and how stories shape public perception. In 2006, I moved to Vermont, where I worked as a reporter for the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus. It was there that I learned the craft properly, covering local government, communities, and the everyday issues that define people’s lives.
I later moved into broadcast journalism, working as a producer at WCAX-TV, Vermont’s CBS affiliate. Television news taught me a different set of skills. It demanded clarity, speed, and precision, and deepened my understanding of how information reaches the public. In 2008, I was selected as an MTV Street Team reporter, covering the presidential election. It was an extraordinary moment to be part of, witnessing firsthand the energy and historic significance of that political cycle.
In 2011, I made a decision that would profoundly shape the course of my life. I left Vermont to spend a year in Israel as part of a teaching fellowship. Living in Israel was not just a professional experience, but a personal one. It deepened my connection to Jewish identity, history, and the realities of Israeli society. It also exposed me to the complexities of a country that is often discussed in abstraction but experienced very differently on the ground.
When I returned to Vermont, I transitioned into public service. In 2014, I was honoured to be recognised as a “Rising Star” in Vermont. At the time, I saw my career as firmly rooted in public service and communications.
I served as chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, working at the heart of state government. It was an opportunity to see how political leadership operates behind the scenes, and how decisions that affect people’s lives are actually made.
After Phil Scott was elected governor, I joined his administration in a senior role working on boards, commissions, and public engagement. My work involved coordinating with community leaders, helping to facilitate government initiatives, and supporting official state activities, including trade missions and major public events.
But everything changed after October 7, 2023.
Like many Jews around the world, I experienced that day as a profound rupture. But one of the most personal turning points for me came on October 7, 2023. Among those murdered that day was a young man, Roni Polvanov, who I had taught during my time in Israel.
He was not a headline to me. He was a student. Someone I had known. Someone with a future. Losing him made the horror of that day deeply personal. It was no longer something happening to strangers on the news. It was happening to someone whose life I had touched.
His death profoundly affected me and was one of the reasons I felt compelled to return to Israel in the aftermath, to bear witness and to stand with the people and communities who had been devastated. As I said at the time, his death motivated me to go back and see firsthand what had happened. This eventually led me to help found Shalom Alliance, a Vermont-based Jewish organisation. Our mission has been to support the Jewish community, to raise awareness about antisemitism, and to ensure that Jewish voices are not marginalised or ignored.
This work has not always been easy. Speaking out publicly carries risks. I have experienced intimidation and hostility as a result of my advocacy. But I believe deeply that silence is not an option.
My background in journalism and public service prepared me for this work in ways I could not have anticipated. Journalism taught me to value truth. Government service taught me how institutions function. And my personal journey taught me the importance of identity, community, and moral clarity.
Today, I continue to write, speak, and advocate. I have appeared in media, participated in public conversations, and worked to document and respond to the realities facing Jewish communities.
At my core, I remain what I have always been: someone who believes in the power of words, the importance of truth, and the responsibility to stand up when it matters.
I am proud to be Jewish. I am proud to stand with Israel. And I am committed to ensuring that Jewish voices are heard, understood, and protected.
You can help to fight back, and to support my work here: