About Me

The youngest of five, I was born in Columbus, Ohio, where I spent my early years watching Ohio State football and learning what it meant to be a Buckeye. During elementary school, our family moved to central upstate New York, where I embraced the long, snowy winters and learned the value of a warm hat.

A trip to Boston to visit my oldest brother left a lasting impression. At just 12 years old, I decided that Boston would one day be my home. I would just have to figure out how to stay loyal to Ohio State while also becoming a Red Sox fan—challenges of young adulthood!

I eventually enrolled at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, where I was among the first graduates of their Health Psychology program. From there, I went on to earn a PhD in Social Psychology from Northeastern University. It was in the halls of the Psychology Department that I met my husband, Dean Whitney. Upon completing my postdoctoral work at Yale School of Medicine, we returned to Boston - having indulged in enough New Haven-style pizza to last a lifetime.

Dean and I have lived in Newton for 26 years. When we moved to Upper Falls, our new neighbors knocked on our door, introduced themselves, and shared their favorite neighborhood spots. We knew we had found our home.

We feel incredibly fortunate to have raised our twins, Asa and Cleo (and a couple flocks of backyard chickens) in Newton. Living here gave us the opportunity to experience and benefit from so many of the City’s offerings - kindergarten soccer, Newton South Little League, Newton Girls and Youth Soccer, summer camps, children’s programming at the Newton Public Library, swimming lessons at Crystal Lake and the Gath Pool, and the many parks and playgrounds across the City. Asa and Cleo are both attending college out of state, but still proud to call Newton home.

These experiences inspired me to get more involved in our community. So I met more neighbors, parents, and city employees. I learned more about Newton. I joined others in creating a shared vision, setting goals, improving conditions, reflecting on challenges, celebrating successes – and having some fun along the way. 

Professionally, I’ve spent most of my career working in academic medicine. My work has included leading National Institute on Aging–funded health services research at Tufts Medical School, directing medical education research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and conducting qualitative studies with both healthcare professionals and patients at various medical institutions. I’ve emphasized the importance of asking meaningful questions, engaging in active listening, and ensuring that information and data are always accurate and actionable.  This has been my consistent approach both as a professional – and as a community leader.