She has taught pre-school, middle school and high school students with special needs and has been a university instructor or professor at the University of Minnesota, the State University of New York at Potsdam, and Temple University. Her research area is adults with dyslexia where she has authored over 60 publications in the field. She has received two Fulbright awards to study with colleagues in both the United Kingdom and Germany through Edinburgh University and the University of Frankfurt. She has also co-authored approximately $2 million in higher education funds. She has always been active in the arts, with a special love for theater and costuming. One of her favorite hobbies since moving to Breaux Bridge is working on Mardi Gras costumes. She is also the former president of the Breaux Bridge Historical Society.