She has an undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin, a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University, and a law degree magna cum laude from Marquette University Law School, where she was an editor of the Marquette Law Review and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Quarterly. Following graduation, she worked for over three years as law clerk to the Honorable Paul F. Reilly, Presiding Judge of District 2 of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.