Speaker: Erin Healy

WSC: Paul Thompson; Music: Joseph L’Amour

During a session filled with contentious issues Representative Healy stood up for education, equality, and justice.  She will talk about her accomplishments, frustrations, and plans for the future after her first year in the state capitol.

Erin earned her Masters of Arts in political science with an emphasis in public policy and American government from the University of South Dakota, where she wrote a thesis on state legislators’ responsiveness to constituent policy preference. Determined to make a difference for South Dakota, Erin worked as a legislative correspondent and research assistant in the Washington, D.C., office of Senator Tim Johnson. In 2014, she returned to Sioux Falls and immediately became active in her community. Erin has a heart for people and selflessly devotes her time to serve others. She regularly volunteers at The Banquet and is currently a member of 100+ Women Who Care and First United Methodist Church, where she has been a lifelong member. She has encountered many people within Sioux Falls who live in poverty and are in need of assistance and strives to make sure that those children and families can have the same opportunities she did. Erin also serves on the leadership team for LEAD SD. Between her community involvements, Erin also finds time for a fulfilling career as an operations data analyst at Midco. She was recently elected to represent District 14 in the South Dakota State Legislature, where she serves as Minority Whip, on the Board of Economic Development, and on the Department of Health’s Preventable Death Review Committee. Erin enjoys reading, running, and spending time with her family, Brandon and their dog, Ruth.