She earned her PhD in Educational Studies (STEM Education emphasis) from the University of Kentucky. She also possesses a MS in Chemistry from the University of Iowa and a BS in Chemistry and General Science from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. Her current research interests focus on the relationship between spatial thinking and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) content as well as the ways in which teachers understand and implement project-based instruction and the impact of implementation on students' understanding of STEM content.