She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Harper Adams University College (Shropshire, UK) before doing postdoctoral research with Dale Bauman at Cornell. Her current position is split between teaching and extension, and her research focuses on modeling the environmental impact of beef and dairy production systems. Current research includes the environmental impact of cornfed versus grass-fed beef systems, comparing historical and modern production practices in dairy and beef industries, and the effect of technology use in livestock production.