I grew up in a small farming community in north central Iowa. Attended both undergraduate and graduate schools in Mankato, Minnesota. Earned an A.A. degree from Bethany Lutheran Junior College and transferred to the University of Minnesota, Mankato for my Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. I taught high school English for 5 years before I returned to the University of Minnesota, Mankato and entered the Master of Library Science graduate program.

After graduate school, I worked at Gustavus Adolphus College as a cataloger in their Folke Bernadotte Library. After my first marriage, my family and I moved to South Dakota where I became the librarian for the tribal school system on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Seven years ago I returned to Iowa to live closer to my elderly parents and be the care taker of an aunt living with Alzheimer’s. Becoming a Phi Theta Kappa advisor and a member of Iowa’s Phi Theta Kappa Executive Board is probably one of the most rewarding experiences in my professional career.