I Was the first person to graduate from college in my family. Graduated cum laude, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, major in Psychology and Minor in History. Two years prior, I attended David Lipscomb University, a Christian private school that offered me a full scholarship after high school. Later, attended Western Kentucky University’s Masters Program in Communication for two years.

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After graduation, my first job came through the Kentucky State Department, as a social worker.  Four years pass and my life’s trajectory changes towards marriage and more children.   In this time period,  my children’s school became my focus,  elected the PTA president,  voted to be school parent representative and returned to substitute teaching, when possible.

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 In the late 80’s, I entered the professional world again and a newly built,  psychiatric hospital hired  me to be their marketing representive.  Avid “Lord of the Rings” readers, the psychologists and developers of the facility named it after the place detailed so eloquently in these books; this place “Rivendell” provided healing for the people who entered.