I was born and raised in California and my husband and I moved to Oregon when our 4 kids were young. While they were growing up, I worked in theater as an actress, director and teacher. Once my kids were older,  I returned to graduate school at Portland State University. I have a master's degree in speech communication  and a master's degree in adult education with an emphasis on intercultural training and development.

I taught at Oregon Institute of Technology and University of Texas, Tyler before accepting my current position as full-time faculty at West Virginia University Parkersburg. Teaching one day and being a student the next, keeps me busy but I am so excited to be a part of the program here at OU.

At WVUP I teach a range of com classes and I direct the forensics program. My theater background surfaces when I teach. I use improvisation exercises with the speech team and in all my classes. I am a strong proponent of experiential education and I am interested in developing a handbook of improvisation for the communication classroom.  

In the classes I teach, there is often a blended focus of organizational and interpersonal communication. I also have an interest in health communication. I am looking forward to both the R&O and health com classes. I am excited about the program and eager to be a part of this learning community.