She received her M.F.A. in Poetry and Creative Nonfiction from Carlow University Pittsburgh, with study in residence at Colaiste Naomh Padraig Ireland; her M.A. (Individualized) in Writing from the MacGregor School of Antioch University Ohio, specializing in Celtic and Native American storytelling, and her B.A./B.S. Summa Cum Laude from Youngstown State University, Ohio, in English/French/Secondary Education.