I began working with children with developmental delays when I was 16.  Working in the extended school year program, I met Andrew.  He was charming and sweet, kind and fearful, smart and confused.  He was five years old and autistic.  My work with Andrew impacted me profoundly.  I knew that I would spend my professional life finding ways for children like Andrew to achieve connection and communication.  I had so much more to learn.  Pursuing more knowledge included an undergraduate degree with a double major in psychology and speech, language and hearing sciences from Indiana University.  Then I completed a certificate in Child Development and Diversity from the University of Copenhagen.  I started an educational doctorate in Child, Family and School Psychology at the University of Denver where I had the opportunity to shadow providers working in early intervention and knew that I found where I most wanted to work and the children and families that I wanted to serve.  Without completing my educational doctorate, I transferred to the University of Colorado at Denver to complete my masters degree and licensing as an Early Childhood Special Educator. More recently I completed my DIR Floortime Certification.  Throughout my education, I worked as a nanny, Montessori classroom assistant and service coordinator in early intervention, gaining practical experience alongside book knowledge and field work. 

I continue to learn from every child and family that I work with.  Experience has taught me over and over again to trust the intuition and expertise of parents for their children.  I purposefully maintain a close network of phenomenal professionals also working with young children with developmental delays, especially those with different expertise than mine.  I maintain memberships in professional organizations and attend conferences to stay current with knowledge of the developing brain. 

I am now a mom of three.  My children inform my practice, teach me humility and practicality of life with young children, of the lengths a parent would go to for their children and the way not just a developing brain, but a developing person emerges. 

When I am not working you can find me playing with my own kids and attending their activities.  I love to hike and cuddle with my dogs.  I also like to go rafting, skiing, bird watching and reading.