She graduated from Bradley University (Peoria, Illinois) with a BFA in graphic design. She received a post-baccalaureate certificate in visual communications from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois), and her MFA in graphic design from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. While attending graduate school at Iowa State, she became interested in the field of gerontology. She believes in the power of social impact of design. Her research has consisted of design for aging eyes and what designers can do to make things universal for everyone involved.