Her areas of specialization are Environmental Sociology, Social Justice, Sustainability, Renewable Energy and Water Resources. She received her doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She comes to Sierra Nevada College from the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Some of her accolades include Fulbright Scholar, University of Kansas Dissertation Fellow, recipient of a National Science Foundation Grant to produce a documentary with students on biomass, researcher of the year at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and nominee for a statewide service award in Maine for her work with students and the community. Most recently, she just completed a manuscript for publication.