University of Nebraska College of Law, Juris Doctor with Distinction - 1994 

• Nebraska Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Arts – 1991 (English major, Philosophy minor)  

• United States Supreme Court – 2004 

• Supreme Court of the State of Nebraska - 1994 

• United States District Court of Nebraska - 1994 

• AV Preeminent Rating - Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review since 2012 

• Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers since 2012 

• American Law Institute since 2014 

• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2008

  • Fellow (2008 to Present)

  • Membership Committee (2009-2011)

  • National Test Committee (2011-2012)

  • Board of Governors Representative (2019-2023)

  • Professionalism & Collegiality Committee - Chair (2019-2023)

• American Bar Foundation Fellows since 2015 

• American Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division 

  • Star of the Year (2003-2004)

  • Winner of 2004 ABA Meritorious Service Project Award 

• Great Plains Super Lawyers Designation – 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

• International Academy of Family Lawyers since 2020 

• Best Lawyers in America – 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 

  • Lawyer of the Year in Family Law -Lincoln 2020, 2022

• Chambers - High Net Worth

  • Family Law 2022, 2023

• Nebraska Mediation Association 

• University of Nebraska College of Law 

  • Order of the Barristers (1994) 

  • Allen Moot Court Board (1992-1994) 

• American Bar Association (2000-present)

  • Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (2020 to 2021) 

    • Special Advisor (Presidential Appointment) 

  • Nebraska State Delegate (2011 to 2020) 

    • Elected by ABA members statewide to serve as the one State Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates 

  • Nebraska State Bar Association Delegate (2002-2011, 2020-2022)

    • Elected by the NSBA House of Delegates to serve as one of two Association Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates 

  • Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service 

    • Liaison to Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section (2012-2013) 

  • Young Lawyers Division (2000-2004)   

    • Special Projects (Public Service) Coordinator (2003-2004) 

    • District 19 (Iowa and Nebraska) Representative (2001-2003) 

  • Family Law Section (2008 to Present) 

    • Vice Chair Taxation Committee (2009-2012) 

  • Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section (2004 to Present) 

    • Chair of Law in Public Service Committee (2012-2014) 

    • Chair of Solo and Small Firm Committee (2007-2009) 

    • TIPS NOW! Fellow (2005-2007) 

    • Membership Committee (2012-2013) 

    • Law in Public Service Committee (2007 to Present) 

    • Task Force on Outreach to Young Lawyers (2006-2008) 

    • Task Force on Outreach to Law Students (2009-2010) 

    • Member of Standing Committee on Ethics and Professionalism (2013-2014, 2020-2022, 2022-2023) 

  • House of Delegates Committee on Technology and Communications (2010-2012) 

    • Vice-Chair (2011-2012) 

  • Youth at Risk Advisory Commission (2012 to 2013) 

  • House of Delegates Select Committee (2012 to 2017) 

  • House of Delegates Nominating Committee (2011-2020) 

    • Steering Committee (2014 to 2018) 

• Nebraska State Bar Association

  • President (2014-2015) 

    • Elected statewide by NSBA members  

  • Family Law Section (2007 to Present) 

    • Chair (2008–2010) 

  • House of Delegates (2000 to Present) 

    • Chair (2008–2009) 

  • Judicial Resources Committee 

    • Chair (2008–2009) 

  • Rules and Bylaws Committee

    • Chair (2001-2006) 

  • Annual Meeting Committee (1998–2013) 

    • Chair (1998, 2009) 

  • Young Lawyers Section (1994-2004)

    • Chair (1997-1998) 

    • Executive Committee (1996-2001) 

  • The Nebraska Lawyer 

    • Issue Editor (2004-2012) 

  • Insurance Committee   

  • Volunteer Lawyers Project 

    • Legal Services Campaign Committee   

    • Silent Partner Committee   

    • Volunteer Lawyer at Pro Se Clinic “Self Help Center”   

    • Barristers Ball Committee (2009-2011) 

  • Nebraska Lawyers Foundation Board (2008-2009) 

    • Vice President 

  • Executive Council (1997-1998, 2002 to Present) 

  • Juvenile Indigent Defense Grant Proposal Advisory Committee (2008-2010) 

  • Legislation Committee (2010 to Present) 

  • Ways and Means Committee (2001-2003) 

  • Budget and Planning Committee (2002-2003) 

  • Criminal Practice and Procedure Committee (2000-2006)

• Nebraska State Bar Association Leadership Academy

  • Speaker (2010, 2011, 2012, 2023)

• Nebraska State Bar Foundation

  • Mock Trial Project

    • Coordinator for Lancaster County (1997-1999)

    • National Judge (1999) 

    • Local Judge (various years) 

• Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court

  • President (2002-2003) 

  • Innkeeper (2004 to Present) 

• United States Federal District Court

  • Merit Selection Committee for United States Magistrate (2009) 

• Nebraska Supreme Court

  • Access to Justice 

    • Commissioner (2017 to 2021) 

  • Civil Justice Reform Committee (2019 to present) 

  • Pro Se Litigation Committee (2006-2011)

    • Chair of Limited Scope Representation Subcommittee  

  • Committee on Inquiry for District One (2007 to 2013) 

    • Chair (2013) 

  • Judicial Nominating Commission

    • Supreme Court, First District, Alternate (2013-2017)

    • Court of Appeals, First District (2009-2013)

    • District Court, Third District (2019-2027)

    • County Court, Third District (1996-2001) 

• National Conference of Bar Presidents

  • Executive Council (2016 to 2019) 

  • Program Committee (2017 to 2018) 

  • Communications Committee (2017 to 2019) 

    • Chair (2018-2019) 

• Lincoln Children's Museum

  • Board of Directors (2010 to 2015) 

    • President (2013-2014)

  • Endowment Committee (2014 to Present)

• Lincoln Children’s Museum Board of Directors 

• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church  

• Trinity Infant and Child Care Center  

• YMCA Youth Sports - Volunteer Coach 

• YMCA Youth Sports - Site Supervisor/Referee  

• Nebraska One Volleyball - Assistant Coach 

• People’s City Mission - Volunteer and Contributor 

• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Volunteer  

• 100s of Women 

• United Way – Tocqueville Society 

• Lincoln Community Foundation 

• Law Day in Lincoln teaching Rule of Law to High School Students 

• Preparing High School Juniors from Cesar Chavez Charter School on Public Policy in Washington DC for Internship Interview  

• Free Dog and Cat Vaccination Clinic for Washington DC Ward 8 residents  

• Food and Cash Drive for Tarrant Area Food Bank in Dallas, Texas  

• Clean-up of Jim O’Brien Boys and Girls Club in La Quinta, California  

• Free Legal Clinic and Book Drive at Trident Literacy Association  

• Donation sorting and packing soup bags at New Orleans Second Harvest Food Bank  

• Shelter Clean up at YWCA Angeline Center for Homeless Women in Seattle, Washington  

• Conflict Resolution Interactive Program for middle school in Toronto, Canada 

• Volunteer at Self-Help Center with pro se litigants Clerk of District Court’s office, Lincoln, NE