Hometown: Vermillion, South Dakota
Where did you go to college and what was your major? I attended South Dakota State University on a Vocal and Theatre scholarship, graduating with BA in Music Performance. (I realize USD was located right in my hometown…and if I had grown up in Brookings, I might’ve graduated from USD.)
What is your favorite season and why? This is an EASY one! And it should be everybody’s answer: FALL/AUTUMN. I absolutely LOVE that time of the year. The leaves are changing, the weather cools down, Halloween is coming up…and SNOW will be here soon! (I obsessively love snow, but I learned to tone down my enthusiasm for it after Christmas. Most people are over it by then.)
What is something on your bucket list? When I was younger I created a “List of things to-do before I die” but it was quite lofty. Running for President someday was on that list…but just to say I did.
Where is somewhere you would like to travel and why? I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. I just seems to be such a classy destination to visit.
What is your favorite movie quote? It’s from one of my favorite movies too…Shawshank Redemption: “Some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright.” (Although I do love the quote in the Wizard of Oz…”There’s no place like HOME!”)
Are you a cat or dog person? I would say dog…in fact, the only reason I don’t own a dog, is because my husband isn’t a fan of pets. But, truth be told, I’m infatuated with ALL pets and animals.
What is your favorite thing about living in KELOLAND? Growing up in small town South Dakota was a challenge, so I moved to NYC the week after I graduated from SDSU and lived there for 13 years. My return to South Dakota (10 years ago) was the best thing I ever did. I fell back in love with this state and especially the people who live here. I think the size of Sioux Falls is perfect, not too big, not to small…it’s just right.
If you could interview any celebrity, who would it be and why? Probably Dolly Parton. I mean, who doesn’t know who Dolly Parton is? I think she’s such a positive light in this world…and after decades of being in the spotlight, she seems to dodge all negative press, and even pokes fun at herself. She’s an absolute inspiration.
As a child, what did you want to be when grew up? While I think my list of potential occupations changed fairly often, they never swayed very far from the entertainment industry: Performer, Comedian, Singer/Songwriter, Actor, Screenwriter, Anchor, TV-Host. To name a few.
What is one of the scariest things to happen to you? Moving to NYC on the week after I graduated from SDSU was and excruciatingly painful journey, I missed my family, my friends, and I was driving an enormous U-haul through the busy streets of NYC, a city I had never even visited. Oh, and I was driving through the city during the Puerto Rican Day Parade. So it was beyond busy and chaotic.
