I attended San Francisco State
University and have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics with a
concentration in Child Development. Immediately following graduation,
I attended Mills College in Oakland, California, and received my Master of
Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. At both colleges, I worked
directly with children ages 2 - 6 years.
After graduation, I accepted a position with Merced Community Action Agency,
in Merced, and worked at the Child Development Center in Los Banos, CA.
Very soon after my employment, I was promoted to the position of Education
Coordinator for the Merced County Head Start program. I have also
worked for the Migrant Head Start program in Stanislaus County. As
Education Coordinator, I trained teachers on best child care practices and
ensured that the child care center environment complied with licensing and
program guidelines.
I began work at Merced College in the Spring of
1994 as the campus Child Development Center's Director. As director, I
not only was responsible for operating the center, but I also spent a great
deal of time in the classroom as a teacher, as well as cooked lunch for 48
children! Several years later, I accepted the full time instructor's
position where I teach courses in child development, families and society,
and early childhood curriculum.
On a personal note, I would like to share that I am
married to Tom and we have 3 boys. When I am not on campus, I am
probably running around with "my guys." I love to read, garden and
sudoku!
I enjoy my work very much and look forward to many
years of helping students professionally grow into effective, creative,
nurturing early childhood teachers.
