She is a recognized artist on the Illinois Arts Council Agency’s arts education roster, and is on the faculty of the Peoria Ballet. As a dance advocate, she works to cultivate community engagement through her teaching and dancemaking practices. Kathleen has created dance residences at Northern Iowa University, the University of Oklahoma, Missouri State University, and Beloit College. Her choreographic work has been supported through several Mellon Foundation faculty enhancement grants. She received her professional dance training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City and holds an AA in dance from Dean College, a BA in Psychology from City College of New York, and an MFA from Smith College.