She earned a B.M. Degree in Music Education from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, an M.F.A Degree in Clarinet Performance from The University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Kent State University. She has taught infants through adults as a band director, private clarinet teacher, and general music teacher, with additional experiences in musical entrepreneurship. Research interests include early childhood music education, music education history, and sociology of music education.