After graduating with a degree in French Language and Literature from UCLA, she worked at United Airlines and the internet startup Atomz Corporation, which is now part of Adobe. She returned to school and completed her PhD in economics at George Mason University in 2007. In addition to her teaching, Colleen is a licensed real estate broker and is actively involved in two non-profits – Peninsula Volunteers and Research and Respite for Alzheimer’s Disease. She lives with her husband Steve Meller in Emerald Hills with their dog Maggie and their cat Miranda.