She teaches graduate and undergraduate art education courses to students who are preparing to become art teachers (kindergarten- twelfth grade). Her research interests focus on multicultural art education, interdisciplinary art instruction, and folk traditions. She was awarded the South Carolina Art Educator of the Year (2015), the Dr. Deborah Smith Hoffman Mentor Award (2012), the MacArthur Goodwin Community Service Award (2009), the National Outstanding Performance in Higher Education Award (2003), the Mary J. Rouse Award for Art Education (2002). She is an active member of the National Art Education Association.