She received her M.Ed. in Deaf Education from McDaniel College, her M.S. in Technology for Persons with Disabilities from the Johns Hopkins University, and her Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Special Education. She worked in public, special day, and residential schools for DHH students as a teacher, behavior specialist, career coordinator, and program administrator before getting her doctorate. Her research and grant projects have focused on transition and rehabilitation services for DHH adolescents and young adults. She has published on issues related to transition of DHH and special education students, educational policy, and instructional practices.