She holds a Ph.D. in public administration from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and a MPA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She teaches courses on public service, international development policy and administration, development management, and organizational behavior. She is particularly keen on encouraging people to pursue service careers thoughtfully, grounding their commitment to change in self-awareness and working in community. To that end, she and her husband, Derick W. Brinkerhoff, published "Working for Change: Making a Career in International Public Service" (Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press, 2005).