Former Assistant Majority Whip, Nevada State Assembly

Former Majority Whip, Nevada State Assembly

Senator, Nevada State Senate, 2010-2012

Assistant Majority Whip, Nevada State Senate, 2012

Assembly Member, Nevada State Assembly, 1998-2010

Former Chair, Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Committee, Nevada State Assembly

Vice-Chair, Finance Committee, Nevada State Senate

Former Member, Health and Human Services Committee

Chair, Revenue Committee, Nevada State Senate

Former Member, Taxation Committee

Former Vice-Chair, Ways and Means Committee, Nevada State Assembly

Human Services Consultant, 1994-present

Specialty Courts Manager, 2nd Judicial District Court, present

Executive Director, Children's Cabinet, Incorporated, 1987-1993

Planning Administrator, Community Services Agency, 1986

Executive Director, Tahoe Human Services, 1984-1985

Volunteer, Peace Corps, Dominican Republic, 1979-1980

Host and Co-Producer, "Children First!" public affairs show on KOLO television (ABC)

Chair, Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board

Advisory Board, Community Foundation of Western Nevada

Board of Directors, Court Appointed Special Advocates Foundation

Member, Domestic Violence Prevention Council

Member, Executive Committee, Access to Healthcare Network

Board of Directors, Girl Scout Council of Sierra Nevada

Member, High Sierra Industries Advisory Council

Board of Directors, Join Together Northern Nevada

Board of Directors, Justice Center, Council of State Governments

Board of Trustees, KNPB Channel 5 Public Television

Member, National Commission on Children and Disasters

Member, Nevada Kids Count Advisory Council

Advisory Board Member, Nevada Museum of Art

Member, Racial Justice Institute Advisory Board

Member, Step 2/Lighthouse of the Sierra Advisory Board

Current Car:

2012 Honor Award, American Lung Association in Nevada

Senator of the Year, NV Conservation League, 2011

Autism Advocate Award, Grant a Gift Autism Foundation, 2011

2011 Nurse Practitioner Advocate State Award for Excellence, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Honoree, Nevada Problem Gambling Center, 2010

Recognition Award, NV Hands and Voices, NV Early Hearing Detection and Instruction, 2010

2009 Public Affairs Champion, March of Dimes Nevada Chapter

Hand in Hand Award, NV PEP (Parents Empowering Parents), 2009

Hall of Fame, NV Women Legislators, NV Women's Lobby, 2009

Jon Benedetti Award for Outstanding Support, Bristlecone Family Resources, 2008

Consumer Advocate of the Year, Nevada Justice Association 2008

2007 Public Health Legislator of the Year, UNLV School of Public Health

Immunization Advocate Silver Syringe Award, Northern NV Immunization Coalition, 2007

2007 Policy Leader, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte

Honoree, Celebrating Women in Leadership, Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada, 2007

Community Visionary Award, National Alliance on Mental Illness, No. NV Chapter and Crisis Intervention Team, 2006

Golden Pinecone Award, Public Servant of the Year, Nevada EcoNet, 2006

Santini Cup for Advocacy through Oral Communications, 2006

Dean's Distinguished Service Award, University of Nevada School of Medicine, 2006

Honoring Our Heroes Award, Northern NV Policy Maker, Southern NV Area Health Education Center, 2003

Striving for Latino Advancement Award, Latinos for Political Empowerment, 2003

Veterans Hero, NV Veterans Service Commission, 2003

Senior Star, Sanford Center for Aging, UNR, 2002

2002 Legislator of the Year, NV State Psychological Association

Legislative Advocate Award, NV Disability Advocacy & Law Center, 2002

Profile In Courage Award, NV Attorneys for Criminal Justice, 2001

Appreciation Award, Nevada Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, 2001

Leadership Institute, National Conference of State Legislatures, Class of 2001

Legislator of the Year, Nevada Association of Social Workers, 2000

Flemming Fellow, Center for Policy Alternatives, Class of 2000

Humanitarian of the Year, Greater Nevada School Counselor Association, 2000

Nevada Women's Role Model Award, Office of the NV Attorney General, 2000

Politician of the Year, Truckee Meadows Human Services Association, 1999

Rising Star Award, Outstanding First Term Legislator, Nevada Women's Lobby, 1999