She holds three degrees in Industrial Engineering (a B.S. from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, as well as a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas). Her research interests involve applying operations research methodologies to logistic challenges in health care, sustainable supply chains, distribution center design, and transportation. Her research has been published in leading journals including IIE Transactions, Interfaces, and Health Care Management Science. She is a past recipient of a Doctoral Dissertation Enhancement Project from the National Science Foundation, and national fellowships from Tau Beta Pi, the Institute of Industrial Engineers, and the Material Handling Education Foundation.