Educational Background
- University of Denver, Denver, CO
- 1981 B.A.: Major: Philosophy, Minor: Economics
- Oral Roberts University, O.W. Coburn School of Law, Tulsa, OK
- 1984 J.D.: Law
- University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO
- M.P.A.: In progress
- Aims Community College, Greeley, CO
- 6/2020: Online Instructor Certification
- 2022-23: Assessment Training. Lead oversite instructor for the project.
Professional Background
I am a Colorado native. I grew up in Thornton, Colorado (north suburb of Denver). From an early age I wanted to help people. I also found studying philosophy and the law fascinating. I had three high school teachers who encouraged me, believed in me, and said follow your dreams. I went on to earn my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Denver with a major in philosophy and a minor in economics. Then went onto law school at Oral Roberts University, O.W. Coburn School of Law, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I earned my Juris Doctorate degree.
After law school I came back to Colorado, where I law clerked for two district court judges before passing the Colorado Bar Exam, and then spent the next 25 years practicing law. I have litigated many civil and criminal law cases throughout my legal career. I have also argued a case before the Colorado Supreme Court.
In about 2005, I found my passion for the practice of law waning so I decided to go back to school and took courses at CU-Denver in public administration. My goal at the time was to become a city manager. I pursued this career, having worked in management at the City of Greenwood Village, south of Denver and at the City of Evans, just south of Greeley.
In about 2010, I began working in the criminal justice system working for a non-profit as a director of marketing and development and grant writing. At the same time, I decided to teach paralegal courses for Kaplan College and IBMC and fell in love with teaching. I moved to Fort Collins and began teaching as an adjunct instructor for Front Range Community College, Aims Community College, and at Colorado Early College Fort Collins. Teaching is now my passion and teaching for me is not just a job but a path that gives me great satisfaction. Teaching helps me pay it forward for those teachers I had along the way in my life's journey.
Personal Interests
In my time away from teaching I love to hike in the mountains, and most hikes I take are in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is where I see nature in perfect harmony and many times helps me have clarity when having to solve problems and make hard decisions.