I am an experienced higher education leader and advocate for early childhood education, currently serving as Associate Dean for the Humanities and Social Sciences Division at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina. With over 20 years of service at Trident Tech—including roles as Adjunct Instructor, Program Coordinator, and Department Chair for Child & Youth Studies—I’ve dedicated my career to developing future educators and improving outcomes for young children and their families. 

My professional passion lies in promoting the importance of high-quality childcare and the need for well-prepared, developmentally knowledgeable professionals in the field. I support strategic and programmatic leadership across two-year and four-year institutions, focusing on national accreditation pathways, quality care standards, and inclusive curriculum design. 

In addition to my work at the college, I proudly serve the early childhood education community in multiple capacities: 

• Peer Reviewer for NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation 
• Member of BCDI-Carolinas, SC State Technical College System Early Childhood Peer Group Committee, ACCESS Carolina, and Early Childhood Common Agenda 
• Former Executive Board Member of the SCAEYC, Berkeley/Charleston/Dorchester County Head Start, and the Charleston County First Steps Partnership Board. 

My earlier career includes service as a speech-language therapist and substitute teacher for the Charleston County School District, as well as prior work in law enforcement and the SC Vocational Rehabilitation Center—experiences that ground my perspective in community-centered, advocacy-driven work. 

I earned my A.S. in Secretarial Science from Trident Technical College, B.A. in Speech Pathology & Audiology (cum laude) and inducted in the Alpha Phi Sigma Speech Honor Society from South Carolina State University and an M.Ed. in Divergent Learning from Columbia College.  I have presented at local and state conferences on early childhood workforce development and policies that enhance the care and education of young children. 

Whether through teaching, policy advocacy, or community engagement, I remain committed to building a stronger early childhood education system—one that honors children and families, empowers educators, and prepares the next generation for lifelong success.