She earned her M.F.A. with a focus on painting from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a B.F.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She has completed graduate work for education at Lipscomb University and the University of the Virgin Islands. Her commitment to her faith and pursuit of culture study has given her many opportunities to study and travel abroad. Besides painting, her artistic practice is a melding of music, writing and community work. The theme that is central to her paintings is the potential for connection when personal histories are shared and embraced. This is fueled by a strong interest in the role that collective and personal memory have on one’s identity and psyche.