Leo Strauss, Joseph Schwab, Christian Mackauer, Richard McKeon, Peter von Blanckenhagen and Kenneth Burke were among her lecturers.
Najprej je živela v Long Islandu v New Yorku, nato v Tusconu v Arizoni in kasneje v San Fernando Valley v Južni Kaliforniji, kjer se je zatekala h knjigam in pri 15 letih maturirala na North Hollywood High School.