Before entering the education field, I had a lengthy career as a graphic designer, illustrator, and art director. Now, as a fine artist and art educator, I bring this wealth of experience and knowledge to my students.

I hold a BFA in painting and drawing from McKendree University, an MA in Art Education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and am currently licensed for K-12 art education.

I am currently part of the visual arts faculty at McKendree University where I teach Two-Dimensional Design, Life Drawing (human figure), Illustration, and Gallery Practicum. Additionally, I teach private studio courses in drawing which includes beginning drawing, basics of portraiture, human figure drawing, and architectural drawing.

One of my favorite subject to teach is art history. This is an area of study for anyone who wants to understand art, but finds the actual making of art somewhat intimidating. Very few people will become working professional artists, but everyone should learn about it's history; how it is interwoven with the evolution of human society, and how artists have recorded our world for the past 40,000+ years.

Students often do not realize just how much can be learned from studying the history of art. We can trace and observe how different cultures evolved; from politics, conflicts, and events that changed the world. They discover through observation and analysis how artists take paint, canvas, pencil, paper, stone, and other materials, and create objects that reflect the humanity of their time. It's utterly fascinating, and I am passionate about the vital role art history plays in education.