She earned her Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in 1989, working on viscoelastic thin filament models of fluid flow. She has served professional organizations in many capacities, including the chair of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Mathematics Association, Environmental Mathematics SIGMAA founding member, AP Calculus Reader and Question Leader, Educational Testing Service CLEP Precalculus test development team, and Mathematics Contest in Modeling judge. She has guided students in mathematical biology projects, senior capstone investigations, and honors theses, and encouraged their participation in undergraduate research conferences. Her committment to developing the mathematical scholarship of students would make her an effective councilor for PME.