I grew up in the Peoria area and I have been a lifelong fan of the Braves.  I use to watch the Bradley Braves play basketball on T.V. with my father.  In fact, my favorite two players were our current coach, Coach Jim Les and retired NBA player, Hersey Hawkins.  I truly never dreamed that I would attend Bradley--it wasn't in the realm of possibilities.  When I met my husband, Norm--a BU grad from from a family of many BU grads--I began to seek out that dream.  After completing my Associates degree at the local community college, I was accepted to Bradley--a dream come true.  Soon after I started my first year there, in 1997, we unexpectedly started our family.

I put off finishing my degree so that I could stay home and raise our children.  We had four boys in five years, adding to our existing family of the two of us and his son from a previous marriage.  When our youngest son started kindergarten in 2007, I went back to Bradley to finish what I had started.  I am finding great success at Bradley due, in part, to the support and guidance of my Bradley Family--the faculty, staff and administrators.  Many of the opportunities I have been granted have been based on the reputation and relationships I have cultivated with these extended family members. 

Being a wife, mother, employee and student can be challenging, but the rewards far outweigh the struggles.  In addition to my courses at Bradley, I work part-time for the Assistant Vice President of Communications at Bradley University, Shelley Epstein as a communications specialist.  At this point, outside interests have ceased to exist, but I hope to one day resume my love for travel (outside of amusement parks).