She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Master of Science Degree in Nursing and Certification in Nurse-Midwifery from Vanderbilt University and a PhD in Nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has been a Certified Nurse-Midwife for 20 years and has extensive experience in maternal/child health. Her passion and program of research is breastfeeding and health disparities in African Americans.