biography

I grew up in northern Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior. In the early 70s we moved to Madison, Wisconsin where I went to middle and high school. I remained in Madison for my undergraduate and graduate training because it is such an excellent (albeit HUGE) university.

I met my husband Charles during my graduate career and we moved together to Canada for four years. In 1995, he got a job at LSU and we moved here. Shortly after we arrived, I got a position as a research associate in the Coastal Fisheries Institute at LSU.

I have always believed in the power of massage therapy when it is effectively applied. Before I received formal training in massage, I had the opportunity to see this first hand. My husband was suffering from chronic neck pain. While he was being treated for this condition by a doctor and other health professionals, he received frequent massage from me. This combination allowed him to move from extreme pain and motor dysfunction to a normal healthy condition.

This experience convinced me to consider this rapidly developing and exciting career. I completed my formal training in 1998 and have since been practicing out of my home. I have found that I am most happy doing research full-time during the day and massage therapy during the evening and weekend.