She has practiced in community health for thirty years. She received her B.S.N. degree from St. Anselm College and her M.S. from Boston College. She became a full-time faculty member at Boston College in the fall of 2003 after teaching part time since 1999. She is a certified family nurse practitioner and teaches Synthesis and Community Health to undergraduates as well as assisting in the Family Nurse Practitioner program.