Rebecca grew up in Spokane Valley. She was homeschooled and actively involved in her local horse 4-H club. She also helped raise llamas and goats, fostering a love for animals and the small-town atmosphere.
After completing Running Start at Spokane Community College, Rebecca transferred to Eastern Washington University (EWU) and instantly fell in love with Cheney.
Rebecca holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in Computer Science from EWU. She is a prominent figure in the local Spokane-area technology community. She currently leads the EWU Computer Science and Cybersecurity Professional Advisory Board. She also serves on the Spokane Public Schools Information Technology Advisory Board, and the Spokane Community College Software Development Advisory Board.
In 2017, Rebecca founded Future Ada, a local nonprofit organization. It aims to promote inclusivity and diversity in the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) field.
Rebecca was raised to pay attention to politics and always vote. After graduate school and the 2016 elections, she became even more engaged in civic participation. She joined local activist groups to advocate for civil rights and better policies. She recognizes the importance of everyone's involvement in the civic system and ensuring accurate representation of all voices.
As a proud Cheney homeowner, Rebecca enjoys the amenities available in the community. She frequents the EWU rock climbing gym and explores the beautiful outdoors through activities like running on the Columbia Plateau Trail, kayaking on Fish Lake, and playing tennis or pickleball at the local City courts. Gardening has become a newer hobby for her, providing a balance to her tech-oriented work-from-home career.
Rebecca graduated from the Leadership Spokane class of 2022 and is excited about the opportunity to serve her Cheney community as a hopeful future City Councilmember. If elected, her goals include:
- Introducing innovative and creative ideas to revitalize the community, particularly the downtown area.
- Addressing modern technology concerns, including artificial intelligence (AI), leveraging her tech background.
- Advocating for improved infrastructure and increased housing options for families.
- Strengthening the collaborative connection between the City and the University, building on her existing relationship with EWU.
- Listening to fellow residents, ensuring all voices are represented and maximizing civic engagement opportunities for everyone.
Education
- Leadership Spokane Class of 2022
- Master's in Computer Science, Eastern Washington University, 2013
- Bachelor's in Computer Science, Eastern Washington University, 2006
- Associates of Arts, Spokane Community College, 2004
- Associates of Applied Science in Web Development, Spokane Community College, 2002
Career
Tech
- Senior Manager of Software Quality Assurance & Release Management at ENGIE Impact
- Senior DevOps Engineer at RiskLens
- Senior Quality Assurance Engineer at STCU
- Senior Quality Assurance Engineer at NextIT
Teaching
- Adjunct Instructor in Computer Science at North Idaho College
- Adjunct Instructor in Computer Information Systems at Spokane Community College
- Graduate Student Instructor in Computer Literacy at Eastern Washington University
Volunteer Work
- EWU Computer Science and Cybersecurity Professional Advisory Board Chair
- Coordinator & Founding Member of Cheney Cohousing
- Spokane Public Schools Information Technology Advisory Committee Member
- SCC Software Development Advisory Board Member
- President & Founder of Spokane nonprofit Future Ada
- Spokane National Organization for Women Board Member
- Founder of the software quality assurance user group SpoQuality
- Founder of Spokane Geek Girls
- Career Mentor to Computer Science Students at Eastern Washington University
- FurrBall Tree Decorator for Spokane Humane Society
Honors
- 2018 Eastern Washington University Inspirational Young Alumni Award
- 2018 YWCA Young Woman of Achievement Award