Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, and having lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years prior to relocating to Bend in 1991—and subsequently to Portland in 1996—I now reside in Canby. I earned my M.S in Speech Communication from Portland State University in 2001, with a 4.0 G.P.A.; my B.A. in Communication/Human Communication from Marylhurst University in 1998; and my A.A. from Central Oregon Community College in Bend in 1996. In addition to my adjunct affiliation with CCC, I also teach for Portland State University, Marylhurst University, Portland Community College, Chemeketa Community College, the Oregon Coast Community College, and Kaplan University. Courses I teach include introduction to communication; interviewing; public speaking; persuasive speaking; critical thinking and argumentation; public relations; group, gendered, interpersonal, intercultural, and mass communications; communication and conflict, and listening—both in traditional onsite classes and online.

My life previous to teaching included working in management capacities in professional services and high-tech marketing, print advertising, and technical publications. I continue to provide professional development and marketing consulting services; however, my main focus these days is teaching—a passion I rediscovered during the course of completing my master’s studies at PSU.

As for other information about me, I now am an empty nester living on my own--well, sort of on my own: I have a blonde 5-year old Yorkie/Chihuahua named Daisy who is my constant companion! My youngest daughter is 30 and my two older daughters are 44 and 46--all three are married to wonderful and devoted men. I also have five fantastic grandchildren, four young women and one young man, ranging in age from 20 to 25, and two adorable great grandsons, one who is 6 years old and another who is 2. Beyond my family and teaching, my greatest passion is gardening (I am a Master Gardener) and there is much evidence of it both inside and outside my home.