What drew you to the law?

I grew up with two very strong desires – to help other people and the desire for fairness. My mother says I wanted to be a lawyer or a teacher from a very young age. I first remember my real desire to be an attorney developing while studying the international treaties in undergraduate school. I was fascinated by the basic goals of most of the treaties seemed to be created for fairness, equity and justice. I knew I wanted to be a part of this system.

What did you do prior to entering academia?

I worked in the insurance industry as a claims examiner, adjuster, trainer, auditor and in compliance and negotiations for approximately 12 years before, during and shortly after law school. Shortly after graduation I decided the insurance industry was not what I was passionate about. Since that time I have worked as a public interest attorney helping victims of child abuse & neglect and domestic violence, disabled individuals and veterans. As an attorney I have worked for Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, Texas Wesleyan School of Law and Texas A&M School of Law.

What are you passionate about outside of the law?

Family, camping, photography, riding motorcycles, four-wheeling, reading, writing poetry, helping others.

What are your research interests?

Legal and social issues affecting clients involved in domestic violence, child abuse and neglect and veterans. I am particularly interested in trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and parental alienation or disaffection dynamics that arise in custody cases of abuse victims. Finally, I am interested in ethical issues in family law cases.