She completed her B.S. in Psychology from Truman State University, Kirksville, MO in 2001 and received her Ph.D. in Biology with an emphasis on neurobiology from University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX in 2006. Her postdoctoral training was completed in 2010 following two postdoctoral fellowships at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX and University of North Texas Health Science at Fort Worth, TX. She is a member of several organizations, such as American Physiological Society, Society for Neuroscience, Endocrine Society, and others. Recently, she received the Young Investigator Award by the American Physiological Society, Cell and Molecular Physiology Section. Her research has been focused on understanding the role of androgens and aging on dopaminergic neurodegeneration.