Renee has worked in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. She has over a decade of experience as an executive assistant at Outback Steakhouse and Saint Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants, organizing events, managing board relations, and recruiting physicians. Upon completing her work on a transition team that moved a private practice to the Saint Luke’s Health System, Renee attended the University of Kansas to complete her undergraduate degree in public administration with a minor in economics.
While earning her degree, she worked as a research assistant on the Sociolegal Justice Project and fell in love with research. Upon winning the Outstanding Undergraduate Award, she was admitted directly to the KU School of Public Affairs & Administration (SPAA) PhD program as a prestigious Chancellor’s Fellow.
Her specialization is public policy with an emphasis on deliberative group decision-making. She is published in peer-reviewed journals and has won the Graduate Teaching Award for Excellence twice.