I was born and raised in Eureka, Illinois and lived there until I moved to West Lafayette, Indiana to attend Purdue University.  I have also lived a year in Madrid, Spain, a year in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and eighteen years in Newton, Kansas. I presently live in the Kansas City area. The opportunities I have had to live in Spain and Canada, study in Mexico, Spain, Ireland, Israel and the Occupied Territories, and Turkey, and travel in Europe and South Africa have enriched my life immensely and given me a deep appreciation for cultural diversity.

I have a degree in Spanish and Education from Purdue. I also have an MDiv from the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries in Elkhart, Indiana, which enabled me to accept an associate pastorate at Bethel College Mennonite Church where I served for four years.  I studied and taught Women’s Studies at Wichita State University for twelve years, and later received a Masters in Religious Studies at the University of Kansas where I am currently an adjunct instructor.  Other Mennonite experience I have enjoyed include a teaching fellow at Goshen College and instructor positions at Swift Current Bible Institute in Saskatchewan and at Bethel College in Kansas. 

I have a particular interest in women’s social issues.  I was a counselor at the YWCA Women’s Crisis Center for several years in Wichita, Kansas.  I have led assertion training and rape prevention workshops.  My master’s work focused on Women and Islam and I give presentations on women and religion, Christianity and Islam. 

I also have a particular interest in women’s artistic work. I have taught sewing, quilting, and basketry.  I have studied women’s traditional arts and have a passion for researching, writing and celebrating women’s work in textiles.  Like Sharon, my current research interests also are in the area of the contributions, cultural influences and expressions of women.  Sharon and I share a longtime love of fabric and art and I expect to learn a lot as we explore the relationship among fabric, quilts, women and culture.