She received a B.S. degree in Business Administration/Marketing (1993) and an M.S. degree in Business Information Systems (1994) at Utah State University. She completed a Ph.D. in Adult Learning and Technology (2000) from the University of Wyoming. Her research focuses on facilitating learner-centered distance education environments and student retention in distance education courses. She recently co-authored a textbook titled Web-Based Distance Education for Adults (Krieger, 2004). She currently serves as the co-editor of the Mountain Plains Adult Education Association Journal of Adult Education.