She holds a Ph.D. in Community Health and Behavioral Sciences from Tulane University and an MPH from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a former Research Fellow at The Policy & Research Group in New Orleans, LA, which conducts evaluation research to inform policymakers and public health and medical professionals. There, she oversaw evaluations of programs for persons living with HIV, as well as other education programs. In New Orleans, she taught undergraduate public health courses at Tulane University and at Bard Early College New Orleans.