She earned her Ph.D. in Geology from Northern Illinois University, specializing in Quaternary Geology. In particular, she is interested in how glaciers changed the landscape of the Upper Midwest. She also has academic interests in Geoscience Education as well as the History of Geology. A proud native of Illinois, she grew up along the Mississippi River and likes to point out that the state is more than just the city of Chicago. She enjoys reading, horseback riding, and singing, the latter leading to her involvement with newVoices, a semi-professional choir in northeastern Wisconsin.