Ms. magazine Associate Professor of Politics Vanessa Tyson, who is running for California State Assembly in the 57th District. Before coming to Scripps, Tyson worked as a staffer for Senator Barbara Boxer and as a committee consultant for the California State Senate Committee on Public Safety. Her platform includes investment in local schools, affordable housing development, and a green economy. 鈥淵ou only have one life to live,鈥� Tyson said. 鈥淎nd so you have to be the person you want to be. Don鈥檛 let someone else鈥檚 idea of what is perfect get in the way of your idea of awesome.鈥�