I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double B.S. in Secondary Math Education and Theoretical Computer Science from Northern Illinois University, December 2002. I earned many high honors, including the Dean's Award from the Mathematics Department, University Honors, and the 2002 Lincoln Laureate Award, given to the top senior student for the entire University.

My teaching experience includes student teaching at Fremd HS Fall 2002, a two month substitute job at Lyons Township High School, and a full-time teaching position at Fenton High School, spring 2003. The 2003-2004 school year was my first year as a Viking at FHS and I have loved it her ever since!

My technical experience includes an internship at Zurich Scudder in Applications Development and an internship with Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington as a Software Test Engineer. (Yes, I met Bill Gates!) I also worked as a teaching assistant at NIU for an undergrad and graduate course in Web Design, spring 2002.

While at NIU, I participated in many activities to help foster leadership and service skills. I was the President of Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a Co-Ed Service Fraternity on NIU's campus, until December, 2001.  I completed 50+ hours of community service per semester with APO and was extremely active within the fraternity for 4 years.

In addition to APO, I was a member of the Student Program of the Illinois Education Association (IEA-SP) 1999-2002.  During the 2000-2001 school year I served on the state executive board as the Public Relations chair where I was the editor of the statewide student newsletter and assisted in planning two pre-professional education conferences for the student members.

In 2001 I was invited to serve on the Board of Directors for Northern Leadership Institute (NLI). The NLI is a student run organization sponsored by the University that hosts a spring conference to teach students how to foster leadership. Students are nominated by faculty and student organizations to attend and they attend workshops and see guest speakers to learn how to be stronger leaders on our campus, improve their interpersonal and networking skills, how to run an organization, etc. I served on the registration committee and facilitated a Leadership Panel of NIU Alumni to answer questions for students about the importance of Leadership while attending NIU and after graduation. The conference was quite a success.