Heather grew up in northern Michigan and studied abroad in Costa Rica before attending the University of Michigan where she received a degree in Creative Writing & Literature. She has worked for education focused non-profits her whole career, including as the National Grants Director at Stand for Children from 2010 to 2012. She was the Director of Development at Teach Plus for three years, where she helped the organization almost double in size before returning to Stand where she leads national and multi-state grants and donor communications as well as supporting the state-based grants work across the organization. She is also an elected member of the Belmont Town Meeting. Heather lives in Massachusetts with her three children, husband and beagle.