She holds a BS in sociology with a minor in human resource development from James Madison University (2001), an MA in higher education administration from Appalachian State University (2006), and an Ed.D. in Adult, Higher, and Community Education (2011) as well as a Certificate in College and University Teaching (2009) from Ball State University. Her dissertation, titled Understanding the Educational Lives of Community college Students through Photovoice, was funded in part by the Myra Sadker Dissertation Award.