I am a doctoral candidate in the Couple & Family Therapy program at the University of Iowa with an anticipated graduation in 2023.  

My clinical and research interest focuses on the intergenerational legacy burden of body image distress. I am interested in how relationships can be a source of protection and resilience during times of stress.  

I am sensitive to issues experienced by marginalized populations, diverse races, cultures, and ethnicities. I attend to power and privilege in the many facets of my education and work.  As a member of the queer community and a therapist at the University of Iowa LGBTQ Counseling Clinic, I am keenly aware of the negative complexities associated with heteronormativity and transphobia.  

I am an experienced teacher in both the traditional and online classroom. My professional goal is to develop the next generation of Couple & Family Therapists.  My hope is to work with a team of university faculty where I can contribute to the institution based on my ever-growing experience and commitment to the highest level of excellence in education, service, and research.

I am committed to life-long learning, and as a non-traditional student I am fortunate to have a unique perspective to my studies that I didn’t experience when I was a younger student. 

I have balanced raising a family, with a good stretch of years as a single mom, while maintaining a demanding career of 25 years experience working in a corporate environment, leading teams, departments, and organizational divisions. I’ve run my own small company and was president and executive director for two non-profit organizations. 

My years of diverse experience provides me with a broad perspective of working within various systems, learning to adapt when bumping up against other systems, being consistent and dependable. I appreciate the important role that context plays in our unique lives, and this is evident in my clinical, research, service, and teaching experience.