I am originally from Laredo, Texas, and moved to San Antonio in the late 1990s to attend UTSA, where I earned my bachelors degree in political science.

I later completed a masters degree in political science, followed by a second masters degree in jurisprudence from Texas A&M. As part of that work, I also earned a certification in Health Law, Management, and Policy from Texas A&M School of Law.

I am maried to Charles Edward Mangelsdorf, a surgical nurse, and together we have one son, Ryan.