Holly is originally from Massachusetts, where she first became involved in tobacco prevention efforts in high school as a volunteer with her regional office of the American Cancer Society.  She pursued her undergraduate degree at American University in Washington, DC, where she also began working with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (TFK).  Holly managed TFK's youth advocacy programs, including Kick Butts Day, the Youth Advocates of the Year Awards, and the Youth Advocacy Symposium, for more than six years before moving to Minneapolis, MN, to pursue her Master of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.  Holly is also a Program Director of Minnesota’s statewide youth movement against the tobacco industry, Catalyst (www.bethecatalyst.org). 

Holly’s experience in tobacco control ranges from training youth and adults in advocacy and activism tactics at the local and state levels to extensive work at the national and global levels.  Holly has helped to organize and present at a number of national and global youth advocacy workshops including the 2003 World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH), the E-Forum at the 2005 National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH), the Global Youth Advocacy Training at the 2006 WCTOH, and trainings and events at the 2007 NCTOH in Minneapolis, MN.  Holly also currently serves as a Co-Facilitator of the GYAT Network (Global Youth Action on Tobacco, www.GYATnetwork.org) and remains active in helping to plan youth advocacy tracks and ancillary efforts at the 2009 WCTOH and NCTOH.