About
I have worked in the helping profession since 1993, when I graduated from Butler University with a BA in psychology and began working as a psychiatric technician with individuals with chronic mental illness. Years later I returned to school to obtain my PhD in psychology and as I was working on my master's thesis (creating a new assessment tool to measure body image in 4-6 year old girls), my husband and I discovered that we were expecting our daughter. I completed my master's thesis while caring for my newborn, and my thesis chair suggested that I change my focus to social work - so I obtained back-to-back master's degrees and this is how I found the IU School of Social Work, where I have been honored to be both a student and after years of working in the field of trauma with children and families, returned to teach in the master's program. My daughter (now a young lady), husband and I enjoy hiking, camping, and watching campy horror movies together. We volunteer every year delivering meals at thanksgiving and get involved however we can in the community - my daughter enjoys participating in the 'Jump rope for Heart' fundraiser every year and in spring of 2018 was the school's highest fundraiser with over $1000 raised - she's the next generation of social change! I love teaching because I learn more and more with each new semester, and see growth with students and with our program. Learning is life-long, so I continue to challenge myself as well with courses in art and by participating in university and community projects. I look forward to continued growth alongside my students, colleagues, and the university.