About your teacher...

I've taught high school Science for over 5 years...in Chicago, Los Angeles, and overseas. Last year was my first year teaching at Uni, and I had the pleasure of teaching both 9th grade ICS and 10th grade Biology. In June of 2008 I moved from LA to live in New York City for the Summer, and then continued on to live in Australia until this past December. After the holidays I returned to LA, and am happy to return to Uni as a teacher.

I am a Chicago girl at heart, having spent 18+ years of my younger years in the suburbs. I earned my bachelor's degree in Dietetics and Nutrition, Fitness & Health from Purdue University in Indiana. Go Boilers! I later went back to graduate school, and earned a Master's degree in Secondary Education from DePaul University in Chicago. My husband is a full-time MBA student at UCLA, so in 2007 we picked up to move to the west coast. I'm happy to call the sunny state of California my home now.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband and my Australian shepard dog, running on the beach (I'm training for my 2nd Half Marathon), kayaking, or traveling. Some of the more unique things I've done were conducting research at the Great Ape House at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and researching chimpanzees who know American Sign Language (ASL) at The Chimpanzee & Human Communication Institute in Washington. Jane Goodall (chimpanzee behaviorist extraordinaire) is an idol of mine, and I had the pleasure of meeting her in 2007 when she visited Chicago on a book tour.

Some photos...

(After finishing the Sydney Half-Marathon)

(With my husband who likes to drive Indy race cars for fun)

(Kayaking in the Milford Sound, New Zealand)

(Meeting with Jane Goodall)