She received her PhD in Nursing Research from New York University and MSN in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. Her clinical background, as a Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (PMHCNS-BC), encompasses cognitive behavioral, group, and family psychotherapies as well as evaluation and pharmacotherapy for persons with serious mental illness and cognitive disorders in inpatient, community and forensic settings. Her research focuses on community psychiatry and substance use disorders. She is active in the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, where she serves on the Institute for Mental Health Advocacy Steering Committee, and in the Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses of Austin organization.