A bit about me and what I spend my time doing…

I spent most of my childhood exploring the woods, riding bikes, or swimming with friends. I also spent a lot of time learning as much as I could. There were summers when I finished the next year’s middle school textbooks because I could not wait. My teachers did their best to keep up by giving me more advanced work and letting me tutor younger students. In high school, I saw study halls as wasted time and was lucky to have teachers who let me fill my schedule with independent studies. When I was not in school, I worked as many jobs as possible and filled any extra time with volunteer opportunities. I have continued that pattern ever since.

My undergraduate years were focused on digital media and graphic design. My graduate work centered on digital communications with a special focus on gamification, augmented reality, user interfaces, multichannel marketing, human networks, and emerging technology.

Today I serve as a Vermont State Representative for Orange-2 and have announced my candidacy for Vermont State Senate for Orange County in 2026. I am also the principal consultant and technologist at MEPriestley LLC, my Bradford-based consulting practice I have run since 2004. I currently provide privacy and AI program management and fractional leadership on tech stack and technology strategy. Earlier chapters of my work focused on graphic design, web design, and web development. I founded and led a community workspace and entrepreneurship center, The Space On Main, for nine years. I worked for fourteen years at CampusCE, an EdTech company based in Seattle. I also stay involved in a variety of volunteer leadership roles.

Growing up in a small town shaped my sense of community. That foundation influences everything I do. I stay involved in many town, regional, and statewide efforts focused on social connection, economic and community development, the arts, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

I enjoy taking on big projects that require bringing people together. If I had to name my superpower, it would be the ability to connect and convene people who may occupy the same space but have never spoken to each other. Watching the conversations, partnerships, and ideas that emerge is something that keeps me going.

I am also queer, neurodivergent, and a humanist. These parts of my identity shape how I listen, collaborate, build systems, and lead. They inform how I show up for people and how I approach every project with curiosity, fairness, and care.

My favorite ways to spend my personal time include swimming, paddleboarding, hiking, cross-country skiing, fat tire ebiking, photography, cooking, exploring new restaurants, attending live music, traveling, gaming both tabletop and video, and connecting with people.

If you are thinking about reaching out and connecting, do it. 🙂