Bio
I am originally from the (very) small town of Moody, Texas. After high school, I attended McLennan Community College, and I graduated with my Associate of Arts degree in 1986. I then transferred to Southwest Texas State and completed my Bachelor of Arts in Journalism there in 1989.
I have held administrative support positions in small business and state agencies in addition to working as a freelance writer and talent manager. I was admitted to the Graduate School at the University of Texas in May, 1996, and completed my Master of Education degree in August, 1997. I worked as an academic counselor, instructor, and disability support services coordinator at Austin Community College from 1998-2006. I returned to UT in August, 2001 and completed my Ph.D. in special education with a concentration in vocational rehabilitation counseling in December, 2005. I have been a teaching assistant and research associate at the University of Texas, and I am a Life Member of the Texas Exes. I have been an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Studies and Rehabilitation Counseling, in addition to serving as the Coordinator of Undergraduate Rehabilitation Studies, at the University of North Texas from 2006-2008. I am a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and I am pursuing licensure as a professional counselor in Texas.
My current academic and professional interests include distance learning, counselor education and development, disability studies, and reflective practice. In addition to my instructional duties, I also pursue other professional activities, including life skills/transition coaching and grant writing/consulting.
Outside of academia, my interests and activities involve creative writing, grant writing, songwriting, podcasting, talent management, and music production. I enjoy reading, music, the Internet, people-watching, walking, and discovering new or interesting things to do, see, and learn. I enjoy learning — about people, technology, history, culture — you name it. I'm the kind of person who is always asking "why?" My philosophy of life is continued learning and growth, exploration, joy, honesty, and respect for others.
I live in Austin with my husband, best friend, and web guru Scott Ebner (for information on his activities, see lightspeedturtle.com).