She began her studies at Austin Peay State University outside Nashville, Tenn. as a political science major. After changing fields, she received a master’s in Sports Management from Georgia Southern University, and her PhD from Middle Tennessee State University. Sallie has worked in public health, in a hospital wellness program, ran employee wellness programs for large companies, and built three fitness centers, one for a community organization specializing in wellness and fitness for persons with disabilities. She is a yoga instructor who just completed requirements for her Yoga Alliance RYT 200, taught group fitness for over 20 years, and is an avid horsewoman who dreams of being a cowboy someday.