I am the first person in my immediate family with a college degree. College was never a certainty for me due to lack of funding and loans were also not an option. I feel incredibly fortunate to have earned a four-year degree and an MBA, and to have had as many employment opportunities and complete career changes as I have had – what a journey it has been. I began my post-high school education with Indian Hills Community College, and after two years at IHCC I transferred to the University of Iowa and was admitted to the College of Business. I took my last final in the new PBB building that was on the brink of opening to students the following spring semester, and my first job after graduation was in the field in which I studied – Human Resources. I landed a role with the leading manufacturer of wood and gas burning places located in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa as a human resources generalist. Over the years I have gained many different employment opportunities. I have experience as a marketer, leading new product development teams, and teaching in college in classrooms for Muscatine Community College, St. Ambrose, and Tippie. Now, I reside in Iowa City and work for the Tippie College of Business in Graduate and Professional Programs. I have encouraged my two sons to not only make plans to attend college, but to also consider graduate school in their futures. My oldest is currently a sophomore in college and my youngest son is a senior in high.