She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science at UMass, Amherst. Her Master of Science degree in Exercise & Sport Nutrition is from TWU, Denton. Next she trained at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, to become a Registered Dietician. Her continued interest in the field led her to obtain a PhD from Baylor University in Waco, TX in Exercise, Nutrition, & Preventive Health. Prior to obtaining her tenure track appointment at WSU, she completed a 3-year NIH IRACDA postdoctoral fellowship at Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas. She is an enthusiastic science writer, and loves to engage students in the process of writing and publishing.