I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana where I graduated from the University of Saint Francis. I was raised in a large family, as I was the youngest of six children. My husband, Paul, and our three children (Shane, Mikayla, and Sam) moved to West Lafayette in 2015, and fell in love with the community. We have three dogs, and two cats. I enjoy being active through canoeing/kayaking, running, and lifting weights.  I also refinish vintage furniture as a hobby. I love to travel to new places, and visited New Zealand and Mexico most recently. I'm looking forward to bringing a sense of adventure to our class, as my goal is to encourage my students to be risk-takers and problem-solvers.