A native of Marin County, California, she volunteers at a Marin-based public health program that works with low-income pregnant mothers at risk of developing Post-Partum Depression. She also volunteers as an RN at the RotaCare clinic in San Rafael, California, where she helps uninsured members of the community receive high quality healthcare. One of her best memories from her youth is when she volunteered in rural Mexico as part of the Amigos de las Americas program, where she collaborated with villagers on community health projects. Colleen is currently working towards a Masters in Public Health and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Family Health at the University of San Francisco. She lives in Mill Valley with her husband and three children.