She received her bachelors’ degree in nursing from Michigan State University and her masters in Parent/Child Nursing from the University of Michigan. She has practiced as an L&D staff nurse, manager, midwife and clinical nurse specialist in the Lansing area. She maintains her board certification in Midwifery and has presented at conferences on computer charting and technology in nursing practice and education. Currently she holds the position of Associate Executive Director of Nursing Practice at the Michigan Nurses Association and is part time clinical faculty for MSU.