I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. During my senior year I had the opportunity to tutor first year dental hygiene students, which sparked my desire to become a dental hygiene educator. I continued my education at UNC Chapel Hill and earned a Master of Science degree in Dental Hygiene Education in 2006. Following graduation, I became a full-time dental hygiene instructor at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina. I received a Doctorate of Education in Adult and Community College Education in 2017 from North Carolina State University. I currently teach dental radiography, oral pathology, nutrition, first year clinic, and dental hygiene theory. I am an active member of the American Dental Hygienists Association, with leadership experience at the local, state, and national levels, as well as leadership experience at the national level with Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Honor Society. I am also a member of the American Dental Educators Association. My research interests include adult learning, faculty development, and curriculum development. My master's thesis investigated the prevalence of clinical practice among dental hygiene educators. My doctoral dissertation examined curriculum change forces in dental hygiene programs.