She teaches several of the recreation core curriculum courses including: REC 206, Commercial Recreation and Tourism; REC 368, Programs in Recreation; and REC 444, Issues and Trends in Recreation and Tourism. She received her doctorate in Recreation Resources from Colorado State University. Her research interests include community, commercial recreation and tourism with an emphasis on community place-building and sustainable tourism. She has conducted numerous research projects on community recreation and tourism in the State of Colorado. She has attended several conferences where she has presented on the topic of the research process and survey design, and community and organizational place-building.