I began teaching at Bellevue College as an adjunct Communication Studies Instructor in 2007 and became a full-time faculty member in 2013. Prior to coming to BC, I worked in the nonprofit sector and taught at Green River Community College. I love teaching at this level because I am able to build relationships with my students and learn new things from them in class every day. I have the pleasure of teaching a variety of courses at BC: Introduction to Communication, Interpersonal, Intercultural, Small Group and Public Speaking as well as the Communication Studies courses in the Interior Design and Health Sciences BAS Programs. My research interests include how gender, personality, culture, and the media influence our interpersonal relationships as well as the examination of narrative theory in relation to health communication.
I was born and raised in the Seattle area and currently live in NE Seattle. I earned my B.A. in Speech Communication from the University of Washington and my Master’s in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. When not teaching, you can find me running on the Burke Gilman trail, standing on the sidelines of my kids’ sporting events, reading a good book (or grading) at my local coffee shop, cheering on the Huskies or Sounders, or hanging out with friends and family. Something interesting about me is I use running as my social time and stress relief. I’ve run 13 marathons, including Boston, multiple half-marathons, and one ultramarathon (50-miler).