[10] While in college, Simmons played on the varsity lacrosse team and spent a semester studying abroad at the American University in Egypt.

[10] After graduating Harvard she worked on Barack Obama's Presidential Transition Team, before accepting a job at the Department of Homeland Security.

[11][12] At the Department of Homeland Security, Simmons served as Director of Special Projects in the Counterterrorism Coordinator's Office and traveled to Kabul many times for her work.

[10][12] Simmons also earned a Master of Arts degree in Middle East Studies from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University in 2011.

[20] Simmons was endorsed by the Stamford Democratic City Committee against two-term incumbent Mayor David Martin.

[51][53] These capital investments echoed a claim made by commentators during Simmons' mayoral campaign that her connections to state and federal agencies could result in more funding for local initiatives.

[54] In August 2022, Simmons' administration pursued a project to renovate Stamford's Glenbrook Community Center into affordable housing.

[55] Stamford's Board of Representatives Legislative and Rules Committee voted against the proposal and local residents organized in opposition to the plan.

She later submitted her first op-ed to the local newspaper emphasizing the claims of misinformation and characterizing counter-proposals as "not operationally viable or fiscally responsible.

[58] Prior to withdrawing the proposal, Simmons attended a conference in Chicago and claimed opposition to affordable housing in Stamford included "really abhorrent language from some community members around 'Are there going to be background checks for the people living in this facility?'

When asked to identify individuals who used this language, Simmons singled out Democratic Majority Leader Nina Sherwood and another board member of the same party.

[58] Sherwood said the mayor's claim was "a complete fabrication" and asked Simmons to "tell the truth and apologize for her hurtful Chicago statements.

[60] The charter revision committee’s draft changes were revealed in May 2023 and were characterized as shifting municipal power to the Board of Representatives.

These changes would have made it easier for the public and the Board of Representatives to challenge newly approved developments in Stamford through appeals or legal action.

In an op-ed published by the Stamford Advocate on June 27, she argued the revisions would undermine goals she had for her administration such as advancing the city’s economic prosperity and making government more responsive to residents.

[62] Simmons’ op-ed made reference to her personally advocating to “the state to preserve existing tools in our City Charter”.

This was later reported to be a reference to a provision to Connecticut’s budget bill for that year which included language that would change state law to outlaw specific proposed revisions to Stamford's charter.

[72] Outside of political office, she is involved in the community and serves on the board of the Women's Business Development Council and the Executive Committee of the Stamford Partnership.

[73] Her brother, Nicholas Simmons, previously ran for Connecticut's 36th State Senate district in 2024 against Republican Ryan Fazio, losing 48.3% to 51.7%.