Biography

As a first-generation college student, and second generation American, I was privileged to earn a BS from Michigan State University in Environmental Science and English education. My Eastern European parents were keenly aware of the benefits and joy that comes from education. Their passion for learning was passed to me as I entered my "first career" in Kansas City as a middle and high school Earth Science for 30 years. During my 30-year tenure I earned my MS in Science Curriculum from UMKC in 1993, studied languages, sciences, and Geology on three continents. After retiring from public school teaching in 2016 I began my encore career at UMKC's School of Medicine, where I can continue to share my love of learning with medical students. My lifelong love of learning continues today as I pursue an EdD studying medical students' choice of attending regional (rural) medical campuses.

Education
BS Michigan State University 1983 BS Environmental Science and English Education
MS University of Missouri Kansas City 1993 Secondary Science Curriculum
EdD University of Missouri Kansas City anticipated graduation December 2025
   
The Sutton Geoscience Museum in the Miller Nichols Library has Titanothere fossil specimens which the group I studied with collected during paleontological excavations to the Badlands of South Dakota