I grew up between the urban cities of the East Coast and have lived and studied in Jerusalem, Israel. From a very early age, the value of service to others was instilled in me, propelling me toward a career in the helping professions. I was initially a Special Education teacher and specialized in areas of Selective Mutism and Autism Spectrum Disorder. I discovered the counselor inside from working with many diverse and delightful people of all ages and pursued a Master's degree in Counseling in 2004. Due to my equal love for the practice of psychotherapy, I combined two great passions of teaching and counseling through completion of a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision. I am continuously inspired by interactions with peers, students, and mentors, and learn so much from the academic environment. I am also a mother of four fantastic children who are my greatest teachers and make all of my endeavors worthwhile. It is a true honor to work at the University of Colorado Denver and I look forward to many rich experiences of teaching, research, scholarship, and leadership.