I was one of four children born in rural western Minnesota to working class parents. My mom was an LPN and my dad an electrician. My husband also grew up in western Minnesota on a farm. We both loved biology – his path was outdoor biology; my path was indoor biology. From a young age, we were both driven to learn and explore. We
continue to love the learning process and strive to be lifelong learners every day.

I completed my bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Minnesota – Duluth in 1997 and my master’s degree molecular biology and biochemistry in the 2000. My master’s thesis focused on studying breast cancer metastasis to bone and the growth factors it released resulting in bone degradation (Link to Abstract).

I served as a sabbatical replacement at Mesabi Range Community College in Virginia, MN before taking a tenure-track biology position in south Texas. In Texas, I taught a variety of biological science classes for five years at Brazosport College. Then, I served as Assistant Dean of Student Learning for the Fairbanks Center of Lone Star College System in Northwest Houston for three years. As Assistant Dean of Student Learning, I supervised 150 adjunct faculty, managed the campus learning center and served as campus liaison for academic concerns of a student body of more than 3,000 students.

After my husband finished his PhD at Texas A&M in remote sensing and GIS, we moved back home to the Upper Midwest, landing on the eastern border of Minnesota. I served as interim dean of STEM at Anoka Community College for a year before accepting a tenure- track biology position at Saint Paul College in Minnesota. There, I have taught biology for the last eighteen years.

Along with publishing my master’s thesis work, I published a health and wellness manual to accompany my college level nutrition course (Link Here). I wrote a fictional novel (under pseudonym Rebecca Stevens (Link Here). I’ve also pursued skill sets outside my area of expertise. I obtained my private pilot’s license through Osceola Aero sport in 2009.

My husband, Kirk, and I have four children. Our oldest, Caden, is a sophomore in the engineering program at UW-Madison. Our second oldest, Carter, is currently a senior at NRHS. We also have Brooke and Cooper in the NR school district in seventh and fifth grade, respectively. All of our children have been active in their school careers, both academically and athletically.

It is my strong conviction that we have a duty to give back to our community, both through mentorship and land conservation. I volunteer as a Catholic Formation instructor at Immaculate Conception church in New Richmond. Our family also participates in the adopt a street program through Somerset, cleaning up the ditches for the mile stretch in front of our house every fall and spring.

Kirk and I actively invest in marginal land and restore it. It’s not uncommon to find us cleaning up old junk piles or pulling abandoned fence on our weekends. We cut and treat for invasive species and plant native prairie grasses and trees. We also food plot for local wildlife and promote local youth hunt activities on our land.

I firmly believe we are both stewards of the land and stewards of the next generation. We are here a very short time, and it is our duty to inculcate the values of hard work, discipline, and a love of learning in the next generation. It is our obligation to turn out children who are up to the task of both managing their lives and caring for the planet we
all call home.